War of Independence Konstantin Päts

konstantin päts gave first traditional speech @ independence day parade on 24 february 1919.



weak representation in left wing dominated constituent assembly left konstantin päts little power in composing land reform law , 1920 constitution.

päts founded estonian defence league provide defence advancing red army. on 28 november 1918, soviet russian forces captured narva, resulted estonian war of independence. during government meeting, konstantin päts banged fist on table , refused compromise communists. persuaded other government members start war against soviet russia. in january 1919, estonians forced bolsheviks retreat , 24 february 1919, entire estonian territory under control of provisional government. in speech @ 1919 independence day parade, said: have secure our economy become less dependent our allies. in order avoid bankruptcy, have found our state on agriculture . became basis estonian economy next 20 years.

in april 1919, estonian constituent assembly elected, estonian country people s union won 8 of 120 seats, leaving majority centre-left parties. on 9 may 1919, otto august strandman took on first prime minister. in summer of 1919, päts opposed going war baltic german landeswehr, in opposition, government decided start landeswehr war, ended in estonian-latvian victory. after war had ended on 2 february 1920, majority left-wing constituent assembly adopted radical land reform law , first constitution, brought down proportional parliament, short government cabinets , no separate , stable head of state.