- Year
- 55% of population make living from agriculture. 28% of population make living from mining, industry, and crafts. [1.390]
- 21.5% of population live in towns. [1.390,442]
1901
-
- A Worker's Compensation Act is passed. [1.391]
- Scania introduces its first passenger car. [55.18]
- A bill passes both Houses extending military service to 8 months, and the indelningsverk tax system is abolished. [1.xvi] [47.212] [48.400] [267.155]
- The Stockholm Ice Yacht Club is founded. [127.30]
- December 9
- The first Nobel Prize is awarded, worth 151,00 kronor. [173.12] [238.241]
1902
-
- A large earth-covered burial mound is excavated at Håga near Uppsala. A gold-inlaid bronze sword is found, from the Bronze Age (1800-500 BC). [267.12]
- Kiirunavaara begins exporting iron ore. [1.388]
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- Von Otter resigns as Prime Minister. E.G. Boström again becomes Prime Minister. [1.394] [267.156]
- The last title is granted in Sweden, to explorer Sven Hedin, ennobled by the King. [376.16]
- Sweden officially gives up its right to redeem the city of Wismar on the German coast. [277.6]
- Scania produces its first truck. [55.21]
- The Swedish Employers Federation is formed. [47.231] [267.166]
- Year
- Membership in trade unions: 66,000. [1.407]
1903
-
- Svante Arrhenius is awarded he Nobel Prize in chemistry. [48.577]
- The Swedish Sports Federation is founded. [48.570] [267.164]
- Parliament introduces a progressive income tax (percentage of tax increases with increasing income), and general tax return. The highest tax bracket is four percent. Three types of income are taxable: property, capital, and work. [242.7]
1904
-
- Sweden begins issuing postage stamps in booklets. [26.48]
- Conservative political party forms the Allmänna valmansförbundet, a constituency party association. [1.405]
- Aga company is founded. [1.403]
- Legislation sets aside northern lands for preservation of Sami reindeer herding. [82.21]
- The World's Fair is held in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The Swedish pavillion is a yellow-wood mansion with red tile roof, garden, and green wooden fence. It was built by Ferdinand Boberg. It was designed to make Swedes in America homesick. [37.24]
- The Foreign Minister resigns. [1.397]
1905
-
- Boström resigns as Prime Minister. J. Ramstedt becomes the new Prime Minister. [1.400]
- May 18
- Norway's parliament passes a new consular bill, separate from Sweden's law. [1.400] [48.329]
- May 27
- Three Norwegian ministers in Stockholm present the bill to introduce a separate consular service in Norway within 12 months. The King refuses to sign the bill into law. [1.400] [48.329] [269.200]
- May
- The entire Norwegian Cabinet submits resignations. The King refuses to accept them. [1.400] [48.329] [269.200]
- June 7
- In a session of the Norwegian parliament, a unanimous vote proclaims that "the union with Sweden under one king is dissolved in consequence of the king's ceasing to function as king of Norway". The storting authorizes the Norwegian Council to take over control of the government. [1.401] [48.330] [200.140] [267.158] [269.200] [295.2]
- June
- A Riksdag is summoned in Sweden. [1.401]
- June 27
- At the riksdag meeting, the entire current government ministry is dismissed, replaced by a national coalition government under representation of Christian Lundeberg. [1.401] [48.331]
- July
- The Riksdag completes formation of a program to deal with the situation in Norway. [48.331]
- (month unknown)
- The Swedish-American Line shipping company is founded. [48.373]
- A Viking runestone is discovered on the island of Berezany, part of Russia. The runestone is a memorial raised by a Gotlander, Grani, to the memory of comrade Karl. (To 1985, this is the only runestone found in the USSR.) [50.316]
- Norway accepts Sweden's terms for dissolving the Union of the two countries. [1.402]
- Issuance of notes is limited to the Riksbank. [47.206]
- August 13
- Norwegians hold a referendum on independence. An overwhelming majority favor it. [47.217] [48.333] [269.202]
- August 31
- Negotiations open at Karlstad between Norway and Sweden. Swedes demand the destruction of frontier fortifications and setting up a neutral zone on both sides of the border. A compromise allows Kongsvinger with no further development, and Halden can keep its ancient fortifications. [269.202]
- September 23
- In Karlstad, negotiations reach a successful conclusion; the Karlstad Conventions are signed. [269.203] [295.3]
- October
- A new Riksdag approves the settlement reached with Norway. [1.402]
- October 26
- By the Karlstad Convention, the Union of Norway and Sweden is formally dissolved. King Oskar renounces the Norwegian throne, and declines to elect a prince of his to the throne. [1.402] [47.217] [48.333] [269.203] [295.2]
- Year
- Gross tonnage of Swedish shipping: about 940,000. [1.432]
- Average yearly production of pulp: 430,400 tons. [1.387]
- 8% of the population is elegible to vote. [1.394]
- Population is about 5.3 million. [1.390]
- (month unknown)
- Excavations near Visby on Gotland uncover mass graves from a battle in 1361. [1.67]
1906
- April 22
- (to May 2) The Intercalated Olympic Games are held in Athens, Greece. Sweden wins 2 gold, 5 silver, and 7 bronze medals. [252.486] [255.13]
- (month unknown)
- Carl Edvard Johansson invents guage blocks with tolerance of one-thousandths of a millimetre. The invention is later used by Henry Ford for the automobile assembly line. [281.17]
- The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce is founded in New York. [66.27]
- Gustav Adolf is born to Prince Gustav Adolf and Margareta. (He will die in a plane crash in 1947.) [150.21]
- Prime Minister Staaff resigns. [1.404]
- The spelling of Swedish is reformed to eliminate a number of superfluous consonants. [47.231] [176.7]
1907
- March 15
- Birth of Zarah Stina Hedberg in Karlstad, Sweden; stage and film actor and singer as Zarah Leander (dies 1981). [376.12]
- (month unknown)
- Sven Wingquist founds Svenska Kullagerfabrik (SKF) in Göteborg, to manufacture ball bearings. [47.226] [48.453] [281.19]
- The National Society against Emmigration is founded. [48.376]
- The government acquires half of the shares of a company that controls iron-ore mines in Lappland. [47.231]
- The Swedish Mint releases a 2 kronor silver coin to commemorate the Golden Wedding Anniversary of King Oskar and Sofia. [22.17]
- Skefco company is founded. [1.403]
- December 8
- On the death of King Oskar II, Prince Gustav is proclaimed King Gustav V. [47.232] [200.140] [238.238] [267.159]
- Year
- Membership in trade unions: 231,000. [1.407]
1908
- April 27
- (to October 31) The 4th Olympic Games are held in London, England. Sweden wins 8 gold, 6 silver, and 11 bronze medals. [252.487] [255.14]
- (month unknown)
- Civil marriages are introduced. [48.573]
1909
-
- Gustaf Dalén invents the automatic AGA lighthouse. [281.18]
- The right of the king to two votes in the high court is abolished. [48.297]
- Selma Lagerlöf is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. [47.222] [48.363,552]
- A Waterfalls Board is established to monitor use of hydro-electric power. [47.231]
- Legislation bans night-work for women in industry. [47.231]
- A nation-wide poll indicates that a majority favors total prohibition of alcohol consumption. [48.412]
- Swedish Parliament authorizes the formation of ten national parks. Sweden is the first country in Europe to create a national park. [287.13]
- Prohibition of the consumption of alcohol is imposed. [48.355]
- August 2
- The Swedish Employers Federation orders a general lockout affecting 100,000 workers, following a series of disputes and strikes since spring. [48.417]
- August 4
- The Confederation of Trade Unions calls for a general strike, involving approximately 300,000 factory workers. [1.407] [48.417] [267.159]
- (month unknown)
- The Confederation of Trade Unions calls off its general strike, except for those locked out by the Swedish Employers Federation. [48.417]
- November 21
- Prime Minister Staaf makes a careful policy declaration, calling the employers' lockout and the workers' strike wrong, because they broke agreements. [48.426]
- December
- The Confederation of Trade Unions calls off the strike by workers locked out by the Swedish Employers Federation. [48.417]
1910
-
- A nation-wide poll indicates that a majority favors permanent prohibition of alcohol consumption. [48.355]
- For the first and only time, the guillotine is used in Sweden, for the execution of murderer Alfred Andersson-Ander. [153.38]
- Year
- 49% of population make living from agriculture. 32% of population make living from mining, industry, and crafts. [1.390]
- Members of the Co-operative Association: 68,000. [1.412]
1911
-
- The Swedish Ski Association is formed. [17.30]
- Scania produces its first bus. [55.21]
- October
- In the riksdag elections, Liberals win with 102 seats, lead by Karl Staaff. Conservatives and Social Democrats each win 64 seats. [48.400,407] [267.159]
- December
- Prime minister Staaf orders a halt to work on a new F-boat armored battleship. [48.401]
1912
-
- Sven Hedin distributes 1 million copies of the pamphlet "A Warning Word" (Ett varnings ord) warning of a possible Russian attack. The paper recommends Sweden join the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italy. [48.401]
- May 5
- (to July 22) The 5th Olympic Games are held in Stockholm. Sweden wins 24 gold, 24 silver, and 16 bronze medals. [1.412] [48.570] [171.11] [252.488] [255.15]
- (month unknown)
- Selma Lagerlöf's novel Körkalen (Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness) is published. [267.168]
- December 8
- The Nobel Prize in physics is awarded to Swede Gustaf Dalén. [48.453] [238.246]
- December 21
- Sweden, Denmark, and Norway issue a declaration of agreement on principles of neutrality, pledging to notify each other of any departure from these principles. [48.468]
1913
-
- A law passes providing for State pensions to those over age 67. [1.408] [47.231]
- Zeth Höglund publishes "The Fortified Poorhouse" pamphlet, arguing Marxist doctrine against militarism. [48.401]
- December
- Prime minister Staaf gives a speech at Karlskrona that he would promote a rearmament program. [48.401]
- Year
- Total year's exports of iron ore: 6,440,000 tons. [1.388]
1914
- February 6
- 30,000 farmers, with petitions signed by a further 40,000, assemble in the courtyard of the Stockholm Palace, presenting their demands to the King for the rapid strengthening of the army and navy. The King gives a strong speech agreeing with their demands, and urging immediate action from the government on rearmament. [1.411] [48.401] [267.160]
- February 10
- A huge student rally in Stockholm demonstrates in support of the king and the defence policy. [48.402]
- February
- Prime Minister Staaff and the cabinet resign. A new conservative government headed by Hjalmar Hammarskjöld is formed. [48.402,482] [267.160]
- (month unknown)
- Sven Hedin publishes "A Second Warning", about a possible Russian attack on Sweden. [48.401]
- The are about 3000 cars in Sweden. [1.429]
- Gideon Sundbäck is granted a patent on a zipper with two woven cotton bands with metal teeth and a pull joining them. [281.19]
- August 1
- War in Europe begins. Regular soldiers and veteran reserves are summoned to duty. [1.412] [47.234] [267.167]
- August 3
- Sweden proclaims complete neutrality. [48.468]
- August 8
- Sweden and Norway make a common declaration of neutrality. [48.468]
- August
- Foreign minister Knut A. Wallenberg obtains agreement from Norway for a defensive alliance. The riksdag refuses to adopt it. [48.468]
- The governments of Sweden and Norway pledge that events in Europe would not lead either to hostilities against the other. [269.216]
- August 20
- Britain restricts trade with Sweden. [48.471]
- August
- Russia contemplates making a swift naval attack on Sweden. [1.416]
- (month unknown)
- In riksdag elections, Liberals drop from 102 to 57 seats. Social democrats rise to 87 seats, the largest single party representation in the House. [48.402]
- November 12
- Sweden, Denmark, and Norway send identical notes to Britain, Russia, France, and Germany, protesting the closing of shipping routes by mines, and the extensions of ship searches. [48.471]
- December
- The kings of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway meet in Malmö, and jointly declare the desire of their kingdoms to remain outside of the European war. [1.415] [47.234] [48.468] [267.168] [269.216]
1915
-
- The Entente considers establishing a direct link with Russia through Scandinavia. [1.416]
- June
- The government sets up a State Trade Commission, to regulate the supply of economic needs. [48.472]
- July
- Russian cruisers drive German minelaying cruiser Albatross ashore near Östergarn, Gotland. [120.85]
- (month unknown)
- Swede Alex Samuelsson designs the distinctive Coca-Cola glass bottle. [81.23]
- The Sverige is launched, a new Swedish "F-boat" battleship. [48.401]
- November
- Prince Max von Baden of Germany, cousin to Queen Viktoria, visits Stockholm with vague proposals from the German government: if Sweden aligns itself with Germany against Russia, it might gain military supplies and support, autonomy for Finland, and annexation of the Åland Islands. [1.416] [48.470]
- December 1
- Social democrat Otto Järte and conservative Adrian Molin present the German proposal to King Gustav V. The King assures Prince von Baden that if Germany entered Finland, he would quickly move to join in. [48.470]
- December 11
- The steamship Stockholm of the Swedish America Line leaves Göteborg on its maiden voyage to America with 202 passengers. [52.17]
- December 26
- The steamship Stockholm arrives at New York, USA, completing the first voyage of the Swedish America Line company. [52.17]
1916
-
- Germany again tries to induce Sweden to enter an alliance against Russia. The Swedish government firmly refuses. [1.416]
- Sugar rationing is introduced in Sweden. [1.418] [47.235]
1917
-
- Rationing of flour, bread, fats, and coffee is introduced. [1.418] [47.235] [267.169]
- February
- Sweden, Denmark, and Norway make an agreement on minting iron coins due to copper shortages. [207.10]
- March
- Prime Minister Hammarskjöld's government resigns. [1.419] [48.473,482]
- Carl Swartz leads a moderate Conservative administration, with Arvid Lindman as Foreign Minister. [1.419] [48.473,482]
- (month unknown)
- Ivar Kreuger merges twenty Swedish match manufacturers into Svenska Tändsticks AB. [127.23]
- The sepulchre of King Karl XII (killed in 1718) is opened. His skull is xrayed, and a Commission concludes the King was killed by a round bullet 18-20 mm diameter, travelling at great speed, and was not made of uncovered lead. [183.867]
- August
- The inhabitants of the Åland Islands call for reunion with Sweden. [47.237]
- September
- In the general election, the government of Carl Swartz resigns. [48.473,482] [267.170]
- October
- A coalition government of liberal and social democrats is formed, with Nils Edén as prime minister. [48.473,482]
- November 8
- Bolsheviks take power in Russia. [48.474]
- December 6
- Finland declares its independence. [48.474]
1918
- January
- The Swedish government recognizes Finland as an independent state. [1.423]
- Civil war breaks out in Finland. [48.474]
- February
- Sweden sends a naval expedition to the Åland islands to protect the inhabitants against the Russians. [1.424] [47.237]
- May
- Sweden concludes a new trade agreement with the Allies, allowing greater imports, with reduced iron ore exports to Germany. [47.236]
- July 14
- Birth of Ernst Ingmar Bergman in Uppsala; film director. [379.17]
- November 11
- The war in Europe ends. [47.236] [48.477]
- December 17
- The riksdag decides to remove the requirement of property ownership from eligible voters for the Second Chamber. Other decisions include the one man, one vote concept, women voting, no tax restrictions on eligibility, and the voting age is set at 23. [1.426] [48.477]
- Year
- The world Spanish flu epidemic killed 38,000 in Sweden. [311.9]
1919
- June
- A referendum of Åland Islands residents is held, with an overwhelming majority (95%) of them wanting a return to Swedish rule. [47.237] [48.500]
- (month unknown)
- An eight-hour working day is provisionally established. [1.427]
- Torkel Tomasson founds a Lapp newspaper. [48.532]
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