While Finland was a part of the Russian Empire, then the Grand Dutchy of Finland, it enjoyed autonomy and the Finnish language began to gain recognition. This began a strong Finnish nationalist movement. 

However, in 1908 Russia began to exert its power over the region, attempting to restrict its autonomy and force Russian as the language of all official administration. This did not sit well with the Finnish people.

On 6 December 1917 the Finnish parliament signed the Finnish Declaration of Independence and declared Finland a sovereign nation state. On 18 December the Russian government issued a decree recognizing the nation’s independence.