Latvians experience a resurgence of national consciousness…

Latvians experience a resurgence of national consciousness during the second half of the nineteenth century.

There is an intense development of Latvian culture and a new stress on the need for protecting this culture against the inroads of both Germanization and Russification.

A new Latvian-oriented elite appears and begins to press for a larger input by Latvians in
the determination of their own local affairs.

This period is known as the first Latvian awakening.