Tenant farming was a common existance at the time of Finland's independence. While it was a beneficial system when it became widely common in the 18th century, it began to be problematic to society at the turn of the century. Soon after independence, a law was passed that allowed tenant farmers (crofters) to redeem part of the land that they worked while owners received compensation. The effect was to greatly increase the agrarian middle class in the succeeding decades.

IMAGE: A tenant farmer sowing his own land, and Kyösti Kallio (later to become President) in the foreground who played a significant role in promoting the reform.