The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 Praised By Abraham Lincoln – In March of 1848, the Hungarian people, inspired in part by the American Revolution, revolted against the Rulers of the Austrian Empire in a bid to gain their independence and freedoms. The Hungarian Diet accepted many of the revolutionaries’ requests-such as; freedom of the press, the liberation of the serfs, equality before the law and an independent Hungarian Government. But within 6 months, the Imperial Austrian Government attacked the revolutionaries and crushed the rebellion in a bloodbath that lasted into 1849. Several of the rebellious leaders sought refuge in America where their revolution was widely covered in the American press and supported by the American population. Abraham Lincoln even drew up a resolution which in part read; “Resolved, that in their present glorious struggle for liberty the Hungarians command our highest admiration and have our warmest sympathy-that they have struggle for liberty the Hungarians command our highest admiration and have our warmest sympathy-that they have our most ardent prayers for their speedy triumph and final success.” One of the main refugees to America was the former Finance minister Lajos (Louis) Kossuth, who decided to raise money for the furtherance of the struggle against the Empire by issuing Hungarian Fund notes which were engraved and printed by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Company in the USA with some rather ornate designs, such as;
1 (Egy) Forint = Hungaria standing over a defeated crowned figure ( presumably the Emperor of the Austrian Empire ) with cannons draped in the national flags. Several women grace either side of the central vignette
2 (Ket) Forint = A seated ‘Liberty’ with a Hungarian shield in the center, with a Ms. Justice holding the scales and a standing Athena warrior
5 (Ot) Forint = An arm & hammer, woman with a sickle and another with bales. A beehive, representing the industrious nature of the people is depicted in the bottom center of the note All bear the printed signature of Lajos Kossuth.
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