Hungarian Declaration of Independence

The Hungarian Declaration of Independence declared the independence of Hungary from the Habsburg Monarchy

Habsburg Monarchy

The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...

 during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848

Hungarian Revolution of 1848

The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...

. It was presented to the National Assembly in closed session on 13 April 1849 by Lajos Kossuth

Lajos Kossuth

Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.-Family:Lajos...

, and in open session the following day, despite political opposition from within the Hungarian Peace Party. The declaration was passed unanimously the following day.

Kossuth issued the declaration himself, from the Protestant Great Church of Debrecen

Protestant Great Church of Debrecen

The Protestant Great Church or Great Reformed Church is probably the most best known building in the city of Debrecen. It stands in the city centre, between Kossuth square and Calvin square. It is the symbol of the Protestant Church in Hungary, and it is because of this church that Debrecen is...

. The declaration accused the Habsburgs of crimes, saying
In a banquet speech before the Corporation of New York, Kossuth urged the United States to recognize Hungarian independence, saying

Further reading

— the full text of the Declaration of Independence, translated into English