Geographical location, physical conditions and natural resources, population, economic and cultural progress, and the efforts of groups and individuals with political responsibility - all these have contributed to the political history of Finland.

(Introduction - Development before 1809).

Russia broke the back of Napoleon's eastern offensive in 1812 and thereby became the most important factor in the land war fought against the French.

(Chapter I - The period of frozen constitutionalism, 1809-63).