National Liberal Party (Denmark)
Encyclopedia
The National Liberal Party , was a Danish political party or political movement from the 1830s until about 1880.
Often considered "the first Danish political party" the National Liberals were gradually founded as the opposition against the Danish absolute monarchy
. It was inspired by German movements and its base was merchants, industrials, officials and first of all student and academics. Among its leading figures were Orla Lehmann
, Ditlev Gothard Monrad
, Andreas Frederik Krieger
, Carl Ploug and Carl Christian Hall
but many elder businessmen and officials were the leaders until the 1840s.
Its political end zeal was a constitutional government and free liberal economic mixed with a strong national attitude towards the Germans especially in the Schleswig
question. It gradually grew stronger during the 1840s and at the crisis and fall of absolutism 1848 it was the driving force. After a short participating in cabinet it went into opposition until 1854. From then and until 1864 it was the leading Danish party especially led by Hall. Its press became an indisputable political factor. Besides it carried through some economic liberal reforms.
The lacking ability of handling the very difficult Schleswig question led to the defeat of 1864 which broke down the power and partly also the prestige of the party. During the next years it went into the background, 1870-75 it was the coalition partner of Højre
and soon most National Liberal veterans joined the conservative side. From about 1880 the party was quietly dissolved, split between the new combattants of the Constitutional Struggle of Denmark.
Often considered "the first Danish political party" the National Liberals were gradually founded as the opposition against the Danish absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
. It was inspired by German movements and its base was merchants, industrials, officials and first of all student and academics. Among its leading figures were Orla Lehmann
Orla Lehmann
Peter Martin Orla Lehmann was a Danish statesman, a key figure in the development of Denmark's parliamentary government....
, Ditlev Gothard Monrad
Ditlev Gothard Monrad
Ditlev Gothard Monrad was a Danish politician and bishop of Lolland-Falster.Monrad was one of the pioneers of the making of a constitutional Denmark after 1848...
, Andreas Frederik Krieger
Andreas Frederik Krieger
Andreas Frederik Krieger was a Danish politician, government minister, professor of law and supreme court judge...
, Carl Ploug and Carl Christian Hall
Carl Christian Hall
Carl Christian Hall , Danish statesman, son of the highly respected artisan and train-band colonel Marls Hall, was born at Christianshavn....
but many elder businessmen and officials were the leaders until the 1840s.
Its political end zeal was a constitutional government and free liberal economic mixed with a strong national attitude towards the Germans especially in the Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
question. It gradually grew stronger during the 1840s and at the crisis and fall of absolutism 1848 it was the driving force. After a short participating in cabinet it went into opposition until 1854. From then and until 1864 it was the leading Danish party especially led by Hall. Its press became an indisputable political factor. Besides it carried through some economic liberal reforms.
The lacking ability of handling the very difficult Schleswig question led to the defeat of 1864 which broke down the power and partly also the prestige of the party. During the next years it went into the background, 1870-75 it was the coalition partner of Højre
Højre
Højre was the name of two Danish political parties of Conservative persuasion.The first Højre party existed from 1848 to 1866....
and soon most National Liberal veterans joined the conservative side. From about 1880 the party was quietly dissolved, split between the new combattants of the Constitutional Struggle of Denmark.