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History of Finland
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Finland Chronology
Beginning of Finland
100-400 AD
People from Southern Baltic migrated to Finland.
400-800
As the Iron Aged developed, Finland made its connections with the regional powerful countries.
800-1050
The Swedish Vikings formed trade connections with Russia through Finland.
1150s
Finns were converted to Christianity as the Swedish crusaders marched to the south-western part of the country.
1155-1809
The Kingdom of Sweden, which included Norway and Denmark, incorporated Finland, too.
1238-1249
The Swedes made a second crusade through the region of Tavasita.
1293
The third Swedish crusade through Finland brought on the division between Catholic and Orthodox.
Medieval History of Finland
1362
Finland earned the right to be represented in Swedish elections in parliament.
1523
The Lutheran Church in Finland was established by Gustavus Vasa, the King of Sweden.
1550
The city of Helsinki was founded.
1596-1597
The farmers revolted against the nobility in the so-called Mallet War.
1617
Sweden gained control over the entire Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland.
1696-1697
One-third of the Finnish population died in the devastating famine that struck the country.
Russian Occupation of Finland
1713-1721
Russia invaded Finland and ruled in terror.
1808-1809
Sweden and Russia fought the Finnish War over the right to rule Finland.
1809
Finland was given to Russia but maintained limited autonomy.
1812
The capital of Finland became Helsinki.
1860
The
markka
became Finland's own currency.
1864
The Finnish peasants were allowed to buy and own lands.
1865
Finland's greatest composer, Jean Sibelius, was born.
1879-1880
Finnish explorer A.E. Nordenskiold made the first sail across the Arctic.
1881-1894
A high percentage of immigrants to the U.S. due to rural poverty.
1894-1917
Civil disobedience due to loss of Finnish autonomy and much censorship and conscription.
20th Century and Independence from Russia
1906
The establishment of Finland's National Parliament.
1907
The women were given the right to vote for the first time in European history.
1917
Independence from Russia.
1918
Russian and Finnish troops were in a civil war – the Finns won.
1919
Finland became a republic and K.J. Stahlberg was its first president.
1920
Official Finnish Independence.
1930
A Fascist movement called Laupa led to a peasants march to Helsinki.
1930-1955
A sterilization program was enacted in Finland.
1939
At the beginning of World War II Finland declared neutrality but Russia invaded and thus the Winter War began.
1940
With the Treaty of Moscow the Winter War ended with 10% of Finnish territory given to Russia.
1941
When Germany attacked the Soviet Union, Finland tried to regain its lands but as a result Britain declared war on Finland.
1944
Finland lost more territory to Russia.
1947
Peace between Russia and Finland.
1952
The Olympic Games were held in Helsinki.
1955
Finland joined the UN.
1956-1981
President is Urho Kekkonen.
1989
Became a member of the Council of Europe.
1991-1993
With the break-up of the Soviet Union Finnish economy suffered recession.
1994
Became a member of NATO program Partnership for Peace.
1995
Finland joined the European Union.
2000
Finland's first female president, Tarja Halonen, was elected and a new constitution was adopted.
Present Day Finland
2002
Finland changed its currency with the Euro.
2003
Anneli Jaatteenmaki was the first female premier but resigned soon after her election due to a scandal about the elections.
2006 January
Tarja Halonen was re-elected for president.
2006 May
The European Constitution was accepted.
2006
The Eurovision Song Contest was held in Finland.