The North-Eastern Kresy region of the interwar Polish Republic was the most economically backward region in Poland, and was often referred to as Poland B. Many factors contributed to that state of affairs, among them historical, geographical, agrarian and climatic and related to transport infrastructure. The serious underdevelopment of agriculture and industry, as well as the lack of wider investment opportunities on the part of State and private investors, made the economic reforms which started at that time have very little impact on the existing economic situation. This state of affairs, in connection with the repercussions of the great economic crisis, resulted in the advancing process of pauperisation, the breaking up of farms, and the stagnation of industry.
The Peasant Party was established in January 1926 as a result of a secession by the Polish Peasant Parties Association “Liberation” and “People’s Unity”. It quickly gained huge support in society and became the third power in the Peasant movement. The farm was to become the core of the most important branch of the national economy – agriculture. The Peasant Party’s leadership believed that the way to power in the country was through the reforms for peasants which were promised to them after regaining independence. The Party and its Parliamentary Club suggested the regeneration of the social and economic system. The basis for this regeneration was intended to be, firstly, making small farms the basis of the national economy; secondly, carrying out agricultural reform; thirdly, socialising the basic branches of industry and mining; fourthly, popularising the agricultural and commercial cooperative movements; and fifthly, developing and disseminating all educational reforms, particularly those concerning vocational and agricultural education.
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