Society of the Friends of Peasants
TheSociety of the Friends of Peasants(Danish:Bondevennernes Selskab) was aliberalDanishpolitical society founded on 5 May 1846 by members of the provincial consultative assembliesJohan Christian DrewsenandBalthazar Christensen,with the intent to promote the liberation of the peasantry and equality among the different classes of society.[1]Among its most politically influential members wereAnton Frederik Tscherning,Jens Andersen HansenandCarl Christian Alberti.
The society gained significant influence in the elections for the constitutional assembly in 1848, as the peasants were the only reasonably organized section of the population.[1]Because of this, the society may be described as the first political party in Denmark.[1]In alliance with theNational Liberalsthey introduced generalconscriptionfor all men—as opposed to the previous conscription for peasants only—and a bicameral system consisting of theFolketingand theLandstingthat enfranchised all landowning men above the age of 30 in theConstitution of 1849.[2]Bondevennernewere the strongest advocates of givingsuffrageto all landowning men, and they would have preferred aunicameral system.[3]However, the conservatives and in part the National Liberals insisted on abicameral systemwith suffrage to the Landsting restricted by income and with some of the members appointed by the king.[3]It is to a large degree thanks toBondevennernethat the 1849 constitution became as democratic as was the case.[1]
In 1848, the society was represented in the first Danish government byWar MinisterTscherning after theabsolute monarchy,theCabinet of Moltke I,a coalition government that spanned the political spectrum.
The number of members peaked in the middle of the 1850s at approximately 10,000,[4]but due to internal conflicts and splits the influence of the society gradually dropped.[1]
The society was represented in government for the second and last time in theCabinet of Rotwittfrom 1859 to 1860.
Although never formally dissolved, the society became part of the liberal partyDet Forenede Venstrein 1872.
References
[edit]- ^abcdeSkou, Kaare R. (2005).Dansk politik A-Å(in Danish).Aschehoug, p. 124.ISBN87-11-11652-8.
- ^Kaspersen, Lars Bo (2004). "How Denmark Became Democratic. The Impact of Warfare and Military Reforms."Acta Sociologica47:71-89. Nordic Sociological Association.doi:10.1177/0001699304041552
- ^abEngelstoft, Povl (1949). "Den grundlovgivende rigsforsamling"(in Danish)in Fabricius, Knud; Frisch, Hartvig; Hjelholt, Holger; Mackeprang, M.; Møller, Andr. (eds.)Den danske rigsdag 1849-1949 - bind I: Rigsdagens historie 1849-1866.Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz forlag, pp. 25-32.
- ^Thorsen, Svend (1950). "Partisystemets gradvise udvikling"(in Danish)in Fabricius, Knud; Frisch, Hartvig; Hjelholt, Holger; Mackeprang, M.; Møller, Andr. (eds.)Den danske rigsdag 1849-1949 - bind III: Rigsdagen og folket.Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz forlag, p. 199.
