Issued during a period of intense political upheaval and foreign occupation in the wake of World War I and the Russian Revolution, the declaration asserted Estonia's national sovereignty and commitment to democratic governance.

While Estonia had been part of the Russian Empire since the Great Northern War, the national awakening in the 19th century reaffirmed Estonian ethnic identity and paved way for nationalist aspirations toward the country's independence.

A significant aspect of the movement was the collection and preservation of Estonian folklore, including pre-Christian myths and traditions, which fostered a sense of pride in an imagined or historical era of freedom before the Northern Crusades.

The unrest was accompanied by both peaceful political demonstrations and violent riots with looting in the commercial district of Tallinn and in a number of wealthy landowners' manors in the Estonian countryside.

In May 1916, politician Jüri Vilms renewed the call for national autonomy, aligning with earlier aspirations to unify Estonia and parts of Livonia into a single administrative entity.

Amid growing instability in Russia, the assembly gradually assumed powers beyond those typically granted to provincial governing bodies, evolving into a de facto national legislature.

The influence of Bolshevik ideology, particularly among Russian soldiers and sailors stationed in Estonia, allowed them to consolidate power in Tallinn, presenting a serious challenge to Estonian nationalist movements.

On the evening of October 26, as news of the coup reached Tallinn, members of the provincial government, including Jaan Poska, debated the prospect of declaring Estonia's independence.

[23] Right-wing factions in the Provincial Assembly advocated for a decisive nationalist stance, pushing for autonomy and independence, while left-wing parties hesitated, hoping for potential cooperation with the Bolsheviks.

[28] Initial negotiations with Jaan Anvelt, the local Bolshevik leader, failed as he dismissed the idea of federalism and warned the Assembly to disband, threatening dissolution if it continued to meet.

This required drafting a Declaration of Independence addressed to the Estonian people and proclaiming it publicly at the first suitable opportunity – specifically in a location where control could be wrested from the Bolsheviks.

General Erich Ludendorff, in early November, underscored the need for support from Estonians and Latvians during the Brest-Litovsk peace negotiations, advocating declarations of secession based on the Soviet-endorsed principle of self-determination.

[36] Amid these developments, the Estonian nationalist leaders opposed alignment with German occupation, proposing instead to resist by declaring Estonia's independence to elevate its sovereignty internationally.

[36] At a critical Council of Elders meeting on 6 January, Gustav Suits, a prominent Estonian intellectual, argued for immediate action, emphasizing the strategic importance of an independence declaration both domestically and abroad, particularly to democratic circles in Germany.

This marked a turning point, as Estonian nationalists sought to capitalize on the geopolitical instability to assert their right to self-determination and lay the groundwork for international recognition.

A final editing commission, including Jaan Poska, Konstantin Päts, and Juhan Kukk, completed the document, ensuring it met the highest standards of clarity and purpose.

Despite these dangers, several handwritten copies of the manifesto were prepared and smuggled to key cities like Pärnu, Haapsalu, and Tartu, hidden creatively in clothing linings or boots.

That evening, local leaders, including August Jürman, convened at the Endla Theatre to discuss the political changes and prepare for a formal proclamation of independence.

Initial plans to have Jüri Vilms read the manifesto on 23 February during an afternoon performance at the Estonia Theatre were thwarted when the Bolsheviks declared a state of emergency and banned public gatherings.

Nationalists seized the opportunity, with groups such as Aleksander Hellat's militia and Konrad Rotschild [et]'s military unit stepping forward to maintain order and assert Estonian control.

[35] The declaration was formally celebrated on 25 February with ceremonies at schools and churches, followed by a military parade in the city center, during which Konstantin Päts publicly read the manifesto to the gathered crowd.

It was designed as a foundational state document, akin to a brief constitution, articulating the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities of Estonian citizens while calling for the formation of a constituent assembly to establish the nation's governance.

Drawing imagery from Kalevipoeg, the Estonian national epic, it evokes the closing prophecy that "when all splinters, at both ends, will burst forth into flames" and "Kalev will come home to bring his children happiness."

By intertwining cultural heritage and the struggle for independence, the declaration presents the birth of the republic as a culmination of centuries of perseverance and as a sacred mission to protect the nation's sovereignty for generations to come.

The Estonian Declaration of Independence emphasized the creation of a democratic state, with the promise of convening a Constituent Assembly to establish the nation's governance and legal order.

The manifesto also guaranteed security and protection for the population and their property, asserting the responsibility of the Provisional Government to address urgent social, economic, and organizational matters.

This dual purpose is reflected in its original title, "Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia," which addressed all inhabitants of the region, including ethnic minorities, as integral to the state-building process.

It specifically guaranteed this right to Russians, Germans, Swedes, Jews, and other groups within Estonia's borders, a progressive commitment formalized with the Cultural Autonomy Law passed in 1925.

The declaration also outlined a mechanism for resolving disputes in border areas, stating that the final determination of Estonia's boundaries with Latvia and Russia would be carried out via plebiscite after the conclusion of World War I.

Although German forces occupied Estonia shortly after the proclamation, the Declaration laid the foundation for the international recognition of Estonian independence following the end of World War I.