In the late 19th century, Norway underwent significant political transformation. Annual parliamentary sessions were introduced in 1869, and a 1872 constitutional amendment required ministers to defend their policies in Parliament. King Oscar II, despite lacking constitutional authority, repeatedly vetoed the amendment, leading to political conflict. The 1882 election saw the emergence of Norway’s first political parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, resulting in the impeachment of the cabinet. In 1884, majority leader Johan Sverdrup was appointed prime minister, establishing Norway as the first European country to adopt parliamentarism.
The Liberal Party initiated a series of reforms, including expanding voting rights, introducing two official written languages (Riksmål and Landsmål), instituting juries, and mandating seven years of compulsory education. In 1889, Norway became the first European country to grant universal suffrage for men.
The labor movement grew in the 1880s and 1890s, leading to the formation of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions in 1899. The Labor Party first entered Parliament in 1903. Meanwhile, women's rights expanded, particularly in education. By the 1890s, dissatisfaction with the union with Sweden intensified, particularly over trade and foreign policy, sparking negotiations for Norwegian independence.