The original 12 points of 1848

The 12 points (Hungarian: 12 pont) were a list of demands written by the leaders of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution.

History

On the morning of March 15, 1848, revolutionaries marched around the city of Pest, reading Sándor Petőfi's Nemzeti dal and the 12 points to the crowd (which swelled to thousands). Declaring an end to all forms of censorship, they visited the printing presses of Landerer and Heckenast and printed Petőfi's poem together with the demands. A mass demonstration was held in front of the newly-built National Museum, after which the group left for the Buda Chancellery (the Office of the Governor-General) on the other bank of the Danube. When the crowd rallied in front of the Imperial Governing Council, the representatives of Emperor Ferdinand agreed to sign the 12 points.

The 12 points

What the Hungarian nation wants.

Let there be peace, liberty, and concord!

1. We want freedom of the press, the abolition of censorship.
2. A responsible government in Buda-Pest.
3. An annual parliamentary session in Pest.
4. Civil and religious equality before the law.
5. A Hungarian National Guard.
6. A joint sharing of tax burdens.
7. The cessation of socage [land tenure].
8. Juries and representation on an equal basis.
9. A national bank.
10. The army must swear to support the constitution, our soldiers must not be dispatched abroad, foreign soldiers must be removed from our soil.
11. The freeing of political prisoners.
12. Union [with Transylvania.