AGRARIAN REVOLUTIONS OF THE PAST 41 



relation to the organization of modern states in 

 laying the foundation for the wealth and power of 

 modern nations. But the efficiency of the feudal 

 organization involved the stratification of the social 

 order and resulted in great hardships and privations. 

 The struggles of the submerged classes on the feudal 

 estates for freedom and social justice constitute an 

 important chapter in the history of human action. 

 It is not too much to say that the aspirations of 

 the English peasant for freedom and equality of 

 opportunities have constituted the basic motives for 

 the Declaration of American Independence and the 

 bill of rights in the federal constitution, and in the 

 organic laws of most of our American states. 



