National Liberal Party (Denmark)

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National Liberal Party (Danish: Nationalliberale Parti), 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 lead by Hall. Its press became an indisputable political factor. Besides it carreid 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.