1920, Jan. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History

The Encyclopedia of World History. 2001.


1920, Jan

The last of the Bolshevik troops were also expelled.	1

Feb. 1

An armistice was concluded between the Latvian and Soviet governments.	2

May 1

The Latvian constituent assembly met and drafted a constitution.	3

Aug. 11

By the Treaty of Riga the Soviet government recognized Latvian sovereignty and renounced all rights to the territory.	4

Sept. 16

The constituent assembly passed the Agrarian Reform Bill, creating a state land fund of almost 3.5 million hectares from governmental, municipal, and church property and private estates exceeding 110 hectares. The German land barons were most hurt by this. In further moves to aid farmers in this primarily agricultural nation, the assembly established a state monopoly on flax. In general, the state also attempted to increase economic activity by taking over the railways and undertaking the repair of destroyed ports and harbor installations. Finally, on Aug. 3, the assembly passed a financial bill creating the lat as the Latvian unit of currency, thereby curtailing inflation.	5


The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.