Anti-rentism.

Anti-rentism. a term applied to the action of a political party which caused considerable disturbance in the state of New York (1843-47) in connection with the non-payment of rent. Large tracts of land had been granted in old colonial days by the Dutch West India Company to its members in New York, who had the title or privilege of a lord 'patroon' or protector, and the colony or manor was governed by feudal tenures. Though the latter were abolished by laws enacted in 1779 and 1785, yet the proprietors managed to form a deed by which rents and dues should be paid as formerly. Associations were formed in 1839 to get rid of these burdens; evictions were tried by the proprietors, which led to resistance and outrages. Ultimately the legislature gave relief of a certain kind to the tenantry, feudal tenures and incidents were abolished, and agricultural land was forbidden to be leased for a longer period than twelve years.