The National Liberal Party ( da, De Nationalliberale) was a Danish political party or political movement from 1842 until 1882. Often considered "the first Danish political party" the National Liberals were gradually founded as the opposition against the Danish

absolute monarchy Absolute monarchy (or Absolutism as a doctrine) is a form of monarchy in which the monarch rules in their own right or power. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen is by no means limited and has absolute power, though a limited constituti ...

. It was inspired by German movements and its base was merchants, industrials, officials and especially students and academics. Among its leading figures were Orla Lehmann,

Ditlev Gothard Monrad Ditlev Gothard Monrad (24 November 1811 – 28 March 1887) was a Danish politician and bishop, and a founding father of Danish constitutional democracy; he also led the country as Council President in its huge defeat during the Second Schlesw ...

Andreas Frederik Krieger Andreas Frederik Krieger (4 October 1817, Arendal, Kolbjørnsvik – 27 September 1893) was a Denmark, Danish politician, government minister, professor of law and supreme court judge. He was a member of the Danish Constituent Assembly, Nati ...

Carl Ploug Carl Parmo Ploug (29 October 1813 – 27 October 1894) was a Danish poet, editor and politician. Ploug was born in Kolding, Denmark, to assistant professor and future head instructor Christian Frederik Ploug (1774–1837) and Parmone Caroline n� ...

and

Carl Christian Hall Carl Christian Hall (25 February 1812 – 14 August 1888) was a Danish statesman. Hall served as the Council President of Denmark (Prime Minister), first from 1857 to 1859 and again from 1860 to 1863. Early life Hall was the son of the highly re ...

but many elder businessmen and officials were leaders until the 1840s. Its political goal was a constitutional government and free liberal economy, mixed with a strong national attitude towards the Germans, especially on the

Schleswig-Holstein Question Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schl ...

. It gradually grew stronger during the 1840s, and at the crisis and fall of absolutism 1848 it was the driving force. After a short participation 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. Its inability to handle the difficult Schleswig question led to defeat in the

Second Schleswig War The Second Schleswig War ( da, Krigen i 1864; german: Deutsch-Dänischer Krieg) also sometimes known as the Dano-Prussian War or Prusso-Danish War was the second military conflict over the Schleswig-Holstein Question of the nineteenth century. T ...

(1864), which ended its power, and also damaged the prestige of the party. During the next years it went into the background. In 1866-75 it was the coalition partner of

Højre Højre (, ''Right'') was the name of two Danish political parties of Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The c ...

, and soon most National Liberal veterans joined the conservative side. From about 1880 the party was quietly dissolved, split between the new combatants of the Constitutional Struggle of Denmark.

Election results

Parliament (
Folketing The Folketing ( da, Folketinget, ; ), also known as the Parliament of Denmark or the Danish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature ( parliament) of the Kingdom of Denmark—Denmark proper together with the Faroe Islands ...
)

References

Denmark POLITICAL PARTIES
at nationsencyclopedia.com Denmark 1830 Defunct political parties in Denmark Liberal parties in Denmark National liberal parties Political parties established in 1842 Political parties disestablished in 1882 1842 establishments in Denmark 1882 disestablishments in Denmark {{Denmark-poli-stub

Election results

Parliament (Folketing The Folketing ( da, Folketinget, ; ), also known as the Parliament of Denmark or the Danish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature ( parliament) of the Kingdom of Denmark—Denmark proper together with the Faroe Islands ...)

References

Parliament (
Folketing The Folketing ( da, Folketinget, ; ), also known as the Parliament of Denmark or the Danish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature ( parliament) of the Kingdom of Denmark—Denmark proper together with the Faroe Islands ...
)