Denmark, 1818–1918: A Dismembered Country

Abstract

Politically, the Danish governments chose amiss on a number of occasions between 1800 and 1864. Some of these decisions led to rampant inflation, bankruptcy of the Crown, and the loss of Norway (cfr. Chapters 2 and 5), and in 1863–1864 other errors of judgement led to the loss of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.¹ However, strong liberal sentiments dominated most political decisions until the end of the century, and after the setbacks of the loss of Norway, and the general European agricultural depression of the 1820s, relative prosperity was eventually restored.