1814 1914 Democracy and Independence 1814 and all

1814 -1914 Democracy and Independence

1814 and all that • A miracle year in the history of Norway • From a county in Denmark to a state in a union with Sweden • Full independence for a few months • First political elections • The Constitution of 1814 (really: one in May, one in November) • Starting point of democracy and independence • From war to peace to war to peace (which lasted until 9 th of April 1940) • King Frederick VI> King Christian Fredrik> King Carl XIII/Carl XIV (Jean Baptiste Bernadotte)

• Background: The Napoleonic Wars and the Treaty of Kiel and… • the downfall of Sweden as a major European power • The first National Assembly at Eidsvoll Spring 1814: The task was to develop a Norwegian constitution • Representatives from all of Norway (none from Northern Norway) • The Men of Eidsvoll / the founding fathers of Eidsvoll • All meetings in Eidsvollbygningen • Completed the 17 th of May, signed the day after • The Danish Crown Prince Christian Frederik was elected king • Tried to prevent the implementation of the Treaty of Kiel

• The assembly met for the first time the 10 th of april • Official opening: Prince Christian Fredrik • President was Eidsvoll owner Peder Anker. • Notable others: Christian Magnus Falsen, Frimann Koren Christie, Nicolai Wergeland, Count Wedel Jarlsberg. • Incredibly short time to make a constitution: Expected a Swedish army before summer

Many controversies: N or N-DK or N-S? Regent (CF) or King (his father as king) A constitutional monarchy (as in GB)? The Union Party - Hermann Wedel Jarlsberg (“The Swedish Party”) against the Independence Party Christian Magnus Falsen (aka “The Danish Party”, “The Prince Party”) • Section 1 of the Constitution, as it still stands, by 78 votes to 29: A sovereign state with a king • •

• Equally fierce debate about the Jews access to Norway. The debate ended when Theis Lundegaard cried out, "Stand up all that favours no Jews will be in the country!" It showed a clear majority and the Jewish section was a fact (to 1851, Jesuits banned until 1956!). Paragraph 2! • New fights over the prince and a foreign policy (or not). • The vote gave 55 -55, but Falsens casting vote tipped. A sovereign state.

• Simultaneously: Britain decided that they were going to support Sweden's claim for the Treaty of Kiel. Hopes became small for a limited independence. • Shortly after: 18 th of June 1815

• 17 th of May: The Constitution declared completed • The assembly unanimously chose Christian Frederik as king of Norway. • King of Norway from 17 May to 10 October 1814. • (King of Denmark, Christian VIII, from 1839 to 1848) • 18 th of May: Signed • 19 th of May: The first parliament dissolved.

The Constitution • Norway will be a supreme and hereditary monarchy: it is a free, independent and indivisible kingdom, and the Regent shall keep the title of king. The People should exercise the legislative power through their representatives. • The People should tax themselves through their representatives. • The right to declare war should be decided by the regent. • The Regent should have the right to pardon. • The judiciary should be independent of the legislative and executive. • Freedom of press.

The Constitution • The Evangelical-Lutheran religion should remain the state religion • The king/queen must accept the Evangelical-Lutheran religion • All religious sects were given free religious exercise, yet the Jews and the Jesuits were still denied access to the country. • New restrictions in commercial trade should not be introduced. • Hereditary privileges should not be granted in the future and thus in time – the nobility was abolished • Norwegian citizens are generally equally committed to, in a certain time, to protect the homeland, regardless of condition, birth or wealth.

In a union • The world's second oldest const. • Major int. delegation to Cph, then to Christian: Danish king "exonerated“. A certain sympathy for Norway but bound by The Treaty of Kiel • The Swedish Army back in Sweden and at the N borders • Ok up to the border, but at war 27 th of July • Peace negotiations from the 3 rd August • Moss Convention 14 th of August. • Union Negotiations: The Constitution of the 4 th of November: Carl XIII to be Norwegian king Carl II (But the future Carl XIV/III led the negotiations) • The Constitution – surprisingly few changes!

• King was a strong king with executive power • Appointed officials, ministers, foreign policy, war / peace, etc. • Two chamber / 112 pcs • Meeting every 3 years. • Acts, appropriations, taxes, loans • Voting (30 -40%): All men over 25 years of farm, or property over a certain value.

"One people, two cultures" First culture Why is the bureaucracy so important? 1) managed state 2) tied the country together 3) They dominated the political life: a) advise the king b) Parliament - 40% in 1830 -1905. c) local bodies. 4) community in culture 5) Communities related 6) dismissal only by court 7) High wages 8) Educated

Departments Lawers Regional and local adm. Clergy incl. bishops Teachers in higher education Officers

The second culture • Farmers were no elite in society, • but the main body • Norway as a nation – the independent farmer • A time of nation building in Norway • The position of the farmer in the constitution

• July Revolution (1830) begins in France • Ydmyk for Dig Despotismen sin Nakke maa bøie. Mørket maa vige for Solstraalens Magt (Bjerregaard) • Rioting in Belgium, Poland the Italian and German states • Mostly cultural manifestations Norway • Wergeland, Bjerregaard, Ole Bull, Andreas Munch • Formation of a cultural elite at the University of Oslo

Political strife and cultural conflict City and country Urban varieties and rural dialects PA Munch: Common Language basis of rural dialects and Old Norse, • But a written language had to be created! • Aasen: Grammar in 1849, dictionary in 1852. • <> Scandinavianism with Welhaven etc. • •

Three dominant politicians in the period after 1830: • Anton Martin Schweigaard (1808 -1870) • Lawyers, civil servant, "married well" • Central director for Senior Wing • The senior official of the wing • Fredrik Stang (1808 Stokke-84) • Lawyers, civil servant, "married well" • Central director for Senior Wing • The senior minister • Ole Gabriel Ueland (1799 -1870) • Central director for peasant wing • The undisputed leader of the peasant wing • Farmer and teacher

The rise of the farmer • John Neergard wandered the eastern • and western country with the so-called Ola-book: • A farmer’s thoughts on Norway's present Constitution • 1833 - a watershed • Changes in election law country to city was 2: 1, • As it was already in the Constitution. • 45 farmers in the Parliament • The farmers considered to patriots • >> liberal officials and citizens + farmers (Parlia. )

1837 • France, Prussia, England, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden: All had local laws • 25 farmers put forward proposals on the council in 1833 for the first time • An elected presidency • adopted in 1837 • Finally their own masters? • Officials strong in commissions and bureaucracies • Voter turnout from under 10% to 60% (never more than 60 in any municipality elections)

The leaders of the municipalities: 1838: 40% farmer mayors 1862: 73%? 1851: Municipality spending 28% of the state's total • 1866: 40% • Communication (road and steam), health care, agricultural schools, vet, midwives • The municipality's responsibilities grew with the amtets sank, fex in road and school • •

However… • • Power of the monarchy strong Karl Johan strong The Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm A sort of spokesman for the Government of Norway A governor in Norway representing the king Ministers first arbitrarily chosen by the king 62 of 70 from 1814 to 1870 were officials 1814 -1840: 1200 officials directly picked by the king

A changing economic life • Industry is defined as commercial processing of raw materials What kind of industry had been in Norway before the revolution? • 1) Sawmills, eg. along the Drammen River • 2) Mines, eg in Kongsberg • 3) Crafts Companies such locksmiths in Tinn • 4) Clothes makers, for example. by the Aker river • 5) fishing, for example. stockfish production Loppa Island • 6) Mills, eg. Barley mill in Bergen. The first stationary steam engine arrived at a flour mill Risør in 1831. • 7) Distilleries (plentiful!)

Industry in general: Around 1850, one is in a transitional phase, craft and engineering in combination transition from primary to secondary industries • Small changes in the primary industries • Emigration in its first stage • •

• Changes from 1840 • textile and engineering workshops led the revolution • there was a market: Cheap cotton cloth. • Match industry likewise • Poor peasantry – cheap labour • Engineering industry were related to communications and expansion there, particularly ships and railways. • Growth in service and government employees

Storbritania Agricultural revolution Population growth Industrial revolution

Norge agriculture Industrial revolution emigration Population growth

• Francis Sejersted about Drammen: "An exceptionally beautiful example of how radically new technology is introduced as compensation for lost opportunities in traditional manufacturing. "

More political changes • Johan Sverdrup from Larvik • Merchants, craftsmen, scholars and officials radical: new faction. • 1848/Thraneria • 1870 Ole Gabriel Ueland Anton Martin Schweigaard died, the ministerial undisputed leader. • Combines old and new opposition groups • All power in this congregation. . .

• Requirements for annual sessions in the parliament (was every 3) • 1869 - Carl XV sanctioned • 9. March 1872 - Decision admission of government and participation in negotiations. • 7. May - sanctions denial • 1880 - twice sanction denial (from governments = King) • 9. June – must become law • Not complied with • 1883 - Impeachment • 11. March 1884 Christian Selmer (1880) deprived of power • 26 June 1884: The King caves in: Johan Sverdrup was appointed by the king

The rise of political parties • Venstre (liberal left): 28. January 1884. Social Liberalism as an ideology. Completion of parliamentarism, freedom of religion, the jury system and universal suffrage. First leader J Sverdrup • Høyre (conservative right): 25. august 1884 (Jens Arup Seip: June 1880). The combination of 174 Conservative Associations or "Constitutional associations" as they called it after the foundation of the parliamentary system in Norway was established. Emil Stang first leader • Arbeiderpartiet (The Labour Party): 21. august 1887 as a socialist party. Andersen Jevnaker first leader. Universal suffrage, statutory normal working day, direct taxes and support the work closures.

Unionional problems • Did not exist until 1884 • Symbolic petty strife: Norway on Norwegian coins/bills, “the herring salad” • Governor controversy 1850 -1873 • Scandinavianism - union rejected 1871 • The main thing: The Swedish king was head of foreign policy • No Norwegian consulates

• 1895 -1905 - negotiations • 7. June declaration, the king refused sanction of Norwegian consular service> could no longer exercise his constitutional duties > could not find a new government> no longer king> no longer union ties • Really a coup d’etat • 13 -23/9 1905: Karlstad negotiations • GB supported Norway • The Great Powers did not support a union • The Swedish king gives up

Political highlights • • 1898 Electorate – all men 1909 – Women at municipal elections 1913 – Electorate – all 1903 -14 – The licensing of fall rights