First World War and the Radicalization of the Agrarian Problem - Case Study- The Former Târnava Mică County

AbstractThroughout the modern epoch, the agrarian problem represented one of the most sensitive aspects of European countries, which triggered serious multiple consequences from an economical, social and political point of view. In this context, Romanian society went through profound changes, determined both by the extremely difficult situation most of the population found itself in, especially in the country, and by the entrance of foreign capital into the Romanian market. Thus, after peace was signed at Adrianople, in 1829, when the Ottoman commercial monopoly was abolished, the Romanian Principalities entered the European market mainly through the export of cereals. These radical changes determined the increasing interest for land exploitation in a context in which most properties were not economically viable as the surface of the lots was reduced, consequence of the frequent inheritances, sales and donations that took place in time. The improvement of the severe social situation the rural population was in determined Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza to take measures for restoring the rural property. Consequently, the Rural Law was applied starting from 1864. However, despite this measure, the situation of the rural population did not change significantly. The lack of land continued to be the greatest problem in the country, leading to the great revolt in 1907. First World War, during which the main fighting men were peasants, determined Parliament and King Ferdinand to consider the agrarian problem the most imperious issue to be solved after the end of the war. In the given context, as in the case of other regions in the country, in the former Târnava Mică County, Dumbrăveni Rural District, the lack of land aggravated by the effects of the war influenced the way the agrarian reform developed and was applied