January 2005
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A Voice of Our Own: In 2005, it will be 100 years since the peaceful dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. What was the issue that finally led to this result? As a result of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, the 400 year-old Danish-Norwegian monarchy was dissolved in January 1814. Norway was ceded by Denmark to Sweden. The Swedish army was however still fighting further south in Europe, and the Norwegians took the opportunity to elect a National Assembly (Storting). On May 17, 1814, the Assembly approved the new constitution and elected the Danish Prince Christian Fredrik as Norway's new King. However, after a short war in June, Norway was forced into a union with Sweden. King Carl XIII became the King of both countries. It's fair to say that the Union with Sweden was never popular in Norway. The issue that finally brought the union to an end was the "Diplomatic" question. Norway wanted to establish diplomatic relations with other states. Remember that Norway at that time had one of the world's largest merchant marines. The Swedish answer to Norway's effort to establish its own foreign ministry was considered unacceptable in Norway. In May 1905, the Storting put before the King an Act providing for a separate consular system. The King refused to sanction it. The Norwegian government immediately resigned. Prime Minister Michelsen interpreted the King's failure to appoint a new government to mean that the union was, in practice, dissolved. King Oscar II was no longer Norway's king. On June 7 of 1905, the Storting unanimously resolved that the Union was dissolved. The decision aroused bitter feelings in Sweden. The Swedish Press called for war. But the conflict was solved through negotiations. Sweden should no longer control Norway's foreign policy. Norway had finally gotten a voice of its own. In a general plebiscite, 368,208 Norwegians voted for the dissolution of the union, only 184 against it. Prince Carl of Denmark was offered to become the new Norwegian king. He ascended to the Norwegian throne under the name of Haakon VII. Billedtekst: Mindekirken has received a historic picture of Norway's Storting and government of 1905 from associate member Karina Allen. She received it from her parents, Erik and Maria Vassbotn (charter members of Mindekirken?) |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |