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Norway enters union with Sweden
Norway entered a personal union with Sweden. The countries shared a common monarch and conducted a common foreign policy. -
Treaty of Kiel
The peace treaty ending the hostilities between Denmark and Sweden during the Napoleonic Wars. By the treaty, Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden, thus ending the union initiated in 1380 and further reducing Denmark's status as a Baltic and European power. -
The Constitution
Eidsvollsvollsbygningen (Eidsvoll Manor House) :
The Assembly, after more than 400 years of union with Denmark, gave the country a constitution and elected a king. The Constitution is dated 17 May 1814, which is celebrated as Norway's national day. -
Norges Bank established
Two years after the separation from Denmark and the union with Sweden, Norges Bank was established by Act of the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) of 14 June 1816. This bill followed work in several committees that replaced one another. The monetary unit was to be the speciedaler (rixdollar), divided into 120 skillings or five ort ("rigsort") of 24 skillings each. -
The Union Conflict
The Swedish king is forced to make concessions to the Norwegian parliament :
After a trial before the court of impeachment (Riksrett), the government was forced to resign in 1884. The Storting, and not the king, had thus acquired the decisive influence on the government, and Norway became the first country in Scandinavia to be governed by parliamentary means. -
All men are given the vote
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Norwegian independence
-The Storting (Norwegian national assembly) adopted a decision to establish a Norwegian consular service but King Oscar II refused to sanction it.
-the Norwegian Government resigned. The King was not able to appoint a new government, which meant that the union between the two countries under a common king was no longer a reality.
-The Storting then passed a resolution unilaterally dissolving the union.
-Norwegian people endorse decision in plebiscite. Prince Carl of Denmark becomes King -
Women get the right to vote
Universal suffrage for women introduced. Norwegian women begin to play greater role in politics. -
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Neutrality during WW1
Norway remained neutral during World War I, but wielded influence through trade and diplomacy. -
The 10 hour day
One consequence of industrialization and the introduction of universal suffrage was the growing influence of the DNA.
A number of social reforms were enacted: a factory act, which included protection for women and children; accident insurance for seafaring men; health insurance; a 10-hour working day (in 1915); and a 48-hour workweek (1919). A 40-hour workweek was introduced in 1977. -
joined the league of nations
Born with the will of the victors of the First World War to avoid a repeat of a devastating war, the League of Nations objective was to maintain universal peace within the framework of the fundamental principles of the Pact accepted by its Members : “to develop cooperation among nations and to guarantee them peace and security”.
Norway joined the league of nations in 1920 -
The world economic depression
Norway suffers considerably as a result of the world economic depression. Trade, shipping and banks all post heavy losses. The value of the krone falls. Unemployment becomes severe and lasts until the beginning of World War II in 1939 -
Neutrality during WW2
Norway declares its neutrality at the outbreak of World War II, but this position becomes increasingly difficult to maintain. -
German forces invade norway
German forces invade Norway in April, attacking important ports. Resistance last for two months.
The Royal Family and the government flee to Britain in June. A government-in-exile is set up in London. -
Vidkun Quisling as prime minister
Vidkun Quisling proclaims himself head of government in Norway.
he served as the prime minister of Norway during the German occupation, from 1940 to 1945.
He collaborated with the Nazis and was responsible for the persecution of Norwegian Jews. Found guilty of high treason, Quisling was executed in 1945. His name entered the English language as a synonym for traitor. -
Period: to
Occupied by Germany
Norway was occupied by German forces for much of World War II. The country played host to some key moments, including the Heavy Water War -
Martial Law
Quisling introduces martial law due to widespread resistance and acts of sabotage by the Norwegian people. -
German forces surrender
German forces in Norway surrender in May. The King returns to Norway in June. Quisling is tried and executed for treason. Norway becomes a charter member of the United Nations. Reconstruction begins, with Norway's gross national product reaching pre-war levels within three years -
Joins NATO
Norway joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). -
winter Olympics
Oslo decided to put its name forward for the 1952 Winter Olympics to show the world they had recovered from the war. 694 athletes from 30 nations participated. -
EFTA
Norway becomes founder member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). -
The first rocket launch
The first rocket is launched from Andoya Space Center -
First oil exploration
The first oil exploration well was dug in the North Sea. Oil was discovered within a year, but it was not thought to be economically viable -
Ekofisk oil field
Initial oil exploration in the North Sea had proved disappointing until the Ocean Viking discovery. This find in what would become known as the Ekofisk field kick-started a new economic era for Norway. -
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Inception of the oil and gas age
- Exploitation of oil and gas deposits begins. By the early 1980s they constitute nearly one-third of Norway's annual export earnings.
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European community referendum declined
53.5% of Norwegians voted “no” in a national referendum on joining the European Community (EC). Following the result, Norway's prime minister resigned. -
Statoil created
The Norwegian government creates Statoil, which would later become Equinor.
Statoil is one of the world's most carbon-efficient producers of oil and gas, and will develop its low carbon advantage further. Building up Norwegian competence and participation on the Norwegian continental shelf were the primary aims. The government of Norway remains the largest shareholder today. -
Signs a free trade agreement with the EEC.
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Sami act
Norway's Parliament passed the Sami Act, allowing for the creation of the Sami Parliament that first convened two years later.
The Sami are the indigenous peoples of the northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and much of the Kola Peninsula, and live in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia.
The Sami Act of 1987 sought to enable the Sami people “to safeguard and develop their language, culture, and way of life” and created the Sameting, the Sami Parliament -
Government petroleum fund
Norway's Parliament passed a law to establish the Government Petroleum Fund. It was designed to invest the surplus revenues from the petroleum sector, and would go on to become the world's largest sovereign wealth fund -
king Olaf V dies
King Olaf V dies. He is succeeded by his son, Harald V. -
Another referendum on European membership declined
Norway once again held a referendum on European membership, this time to the EU. The “no” side once again prevailed taking 52.2% of the vote on a turnout of 88.6%. -
Oslo accords
Norway brokers peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which lead to the Oslo accords.
Norway resumes commercial whaling despite international moratorium. -
Hosted winter Olympics
Norway once again hosted the Winter Olympics. This time, the eyes of the world fall on Lillehammer. -
Labor party succeeds
Conservative government of Kjell Magne Bondevik resigns over question of how Norway should generate its power. He is succeeded by Labor leader Jens Stoltenberg who favors gas-powered generating plants, despite Norway's strict environmental laws. -
Protests against murder of Benjamin Hermansen
- Tens of thousands protest in Oslo against the murder of a black teenager for which three neo-Nazi youths are subsequently jailed.
The attack on 15-year-old Benjamin Hermansen in an Oslo suburb last Friday has shocked Norway and is being described as the country's first racially-motivated killing"
-BBC News -
Tensions between norway and china
China warns that Norwegian Nobel committee's decision to award Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo will harm relations between Norway and China. -
Oslo and Utøya attacks
Extreme right-winger Anders Behring Breivik carries out a bomb attack and mass shooting:
Oslo and Utøya attacks of 2011, also called July 22 attacks, terrorist attacks on Oslo and the island of Utøya in Norway on July 22, 2011, in which 77 people were killed—the deadliest incident on Norwegian soil since World War II. -
Breivik sentenced to 21 years in jail.
A Norwegian court finds mass killer Anders Behring Breivik sane and sentences him to 21 years in jail. -
First women to command UN peacekeeping force
Major General Kristin Lund from Norway becomes the first woman to command a UN peacekeeping force -
Lutheran church allows gay marriages
The Lutheran Church - to which three quarters of Norwegians belong - adopts a new liturgy allowing gay couples to marry in church weddings.
