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| 2. Denmark and Iceland |
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(See March 22)| Kings of Denmark: Frederick VII (r. 1848–63), Christian IX (r. 1863–1906), Frederick VIII (r. 1906–12), and Christian X (r. 1912–47). | 1 |
| Danish history in the last half of the 19th century focused on struggles for independence by both Iceland and Schleswig-Holstein. The National Liberals opposed such independence and, in the Ejder program of 1846, argued for a constitution that would extend to Schleswig-Holstein. | 2 |
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| 1849 |
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| The June Constitution, drawn up by a new government, provided for a bicameral legislature, the Folketing, divided into the Herredsting and Landsting—elected by all men over age 30 who did not receive poor relief. The Folketing was selected by direct vote, but the Landsting would be selected by an electoral college. | 3 |
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| 1853 |
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| Anders Ørsted, chief minister in the Danish government, carried out a constitution for Schleswig-Holstein by royal decree. The constitution established a National Council (Riksdag), half of which would be appointed by the Riksdag and half of which would be appointed by the provincial assemblies. The Riksdag would make national decisions on foreign policy and defense. These provisions did not assuage concerns in Schleswig-Holstein over restrictions on freedom of speech and use of the German language. As a result of such disputes, the constitution was suspended in 1858. | 4 |
| Reforms of the 1850s included extension of the franchise in local elections, the elimination of labor services on land, and the end of the distinction between privileged and unprivileged land. A law of 1854 allowed tenants to establish credit associations so that they could purchase their lands, and in 1861, landlords were allowed to take one holding into their demesne for every ten sold to tenants. Most important, guild and trade monopolies were ended. | 5 |
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| 1863 |
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| The March Patent provided Holstein and Lauenburg with separate constitutions. The government also created a new constitution for Schleswig and Denmark. The constitutions seemed to promise an end to the territorial problems, except that King Frederick VII died and was replaced by Christian IX. Christian IX finally signed the March Patent despite increasing pressure from Prussia and Russia. As a result, Denmark engaged in a war against German troops that had moved into Holstein (See 1863, Aug) (See 1864, Jan. 16). The German troops overpowered the Danish, and Denmark lost both Schleswig and Holstein to the German victors. | 6 |
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| 1866 |
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| Enrico Dalgas founded the Heath Society, which was responsible for land reclamation and colonization in western Jutland. | 7 |
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| July |
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| I. A. Hansen took advantage of the failure of the Liberals to direct the government to reform the constitution. Under the new constitution, the Landsting was reorganized so that it included 12 members appointed by the government, 1 from the Faeroes, and the election of the remainder controlled by electoral colleges split between members popularly elected and members elected by the wealthier taxpayers. | 8 |
| The agricultural crisis of the 1870s hit Denmark particularly hard because of its heavy concentration upon grain production. The Danish responded by diversifying agricultural development, particularly by introducing dairy farming. The latter was encouraged by the invention of the centrifugal cream separator by the Swede de Laval (1878) and the introduction of cooperative dairies in the 1880s. Land reclamation helped to alleviate land pressure, but migration also played a significant role. | 9 |
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