8. 8. Estonia as an independent state (1920–1940)

Question 1

• Estonian Republic

Answer 1

Parliamentary democracy
Constitution of 1920
1921 de jure recognition by the leading Western countries
A full member of the League of Nations
A large number of political parties (10–14) in the parliament
→ frequent government crises (which initially did not affect the overall political stability)
Generally successful administrative and economic policies
Land reform of 1919 Ended the supremacy of the Baltic German minority, which had existed for hundreds of years

Question 2

• National culture

Answer 2

The state education system, from elementary to university level, in Estonian language
University of Tartu opened as Estonian university in December 1919
 The law of cultural autonomy of the minorities 1925, one of the most liberal laws of this type in Europe at the time
The development of Estonian high culture – literature, music, theatre, art

Question 3

• External threat

Answer 3

The totalitarian Soviet Union
The communist coup attempt on 1 December 1924, supported by the Soviet Union
* The re-establishment of the Defence League, voluntary military organization in the Estonian Republic (exists also today)
* The failed idea of a military-political defence union, the Baltic League, against the Soviet threat in the Baltic region
* 1934 the Baltic Entente treaty of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
A political and cultural - not military – union

Question 4

Authoritarian Estonia

Answer 4

• 12 March 1934 Prime Minister Konstantin Päts and retired Commander-in-Chief Johan Laidoner declared a state of emergency.
  The introduction of an authoritarian regime, end of parliamentary democracy in Estonia
  1 January 1938 New constitution, the office of the state president, Konstantin Päts
  The majority of the population did not consider the restrictions on democracy to be especially important, primary concern to recover from the Great Depression The majority of the population supported Päts and Laidoner
  No killing of political opponents in the authoritarian Republic of Estonia