CHAPTER II 

 AGRARIAN REVOLUTIONS OF THE PAST 



Agrarianism is not a new phenomenon in the 

 world. It may be said almost to be incident to 

 private ownership of land. The history of land 

 tenure is characterized by the evolution and differen- 

 tiation of the numerous classes identified with agri- 

 cultural production. Individual self-interests en- 

 tered into competition for the private ownership of 

 land at a very early date, and in one way or another, 

 by force, strategy, or favorable conditions, great 

 landlords emerged who cultivated their lands with 

 slaves, rent-paying tenants, or hired laborers. The 

 classes of the rural population have been largely 

 interdependent. The fa^t that they have been re- 

 sponsible for the food supply has given them a place 

 of influence and power in every society. But the 

 power exercised and the influence exerted have not 

 been equal between them by any means. Out of 

 these inequalities has come a sense of social injustice 

 that has from time to time resulted in revolts and 

 widespread discontent. The history of almost every 

 nation records, at some period, a revolutionary 

 movement that traces its cause to social injustice 

 and privation in the use of land. 



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