AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF

kingdoms, united in a dual monarchy, separated peacably. The thesis raises three questions: why did Norway want independence at all, why was the secession peacable, and can any of the factors which solved the Crisis of 1905 be injected or underscored in other crises so as to effect a peacable solution. in answering the first question the geography of the Scandinavian countries is compared, and differences in social and historical development are considered from the earliest times to the recent. The Kalmar Union (1397-1523) united the three Scandinavian kingdoms loosely under one monarch, but friction caused in large part by clumsy Danish administration of the area led to Sweden breaking away in 1523. Norway tried to revolt also, but the attempts at rebellion by violence failed, and Norway was placed in a subordinate status under Denmark until the Napoleonic Wars. During these wars the British control of the North Sea and the continental blockade threw the Norwegians ont