Sweden Chronology

Sweden's history has been closely linked to the control of the Baltic Sea and its highly profitable trade routes. Under the house of Vasa, Sweden became a major power, controlling much of the Baltic region. By the 18th century, however, Sweden's position had been eroded by its regional rivals, particularly Russia.

*  1814Ð1815 Congress of Vienna. Sweden cedes territory to Russia and Denmark. Period of 180 years   of unbroken peace begins.
*  1844 Oscar I becomes king.
*  1859 Carl XV ascends the throne.
*  1865–1866 Minister of Justice Louis De Greer reforms the Riksdag into a bicameral parliament.
*  1872 Oscar II ascends the throne.*  1905 Norway gains independence from Sweden.
*  1907 Gustav V becomes king. 
*  1911 First Liberal government.
*  1914 Government resigns over defense policy. 
*  1914–1917 Sweden remains neutral though it supplies Germany. Allied blockade.
*  1917 Food shortages. Conservative government falls. Nils Edén forms a Liberal government which limits exports contributing to German war effort.
*  1919 Universal adult suffrage.
*  1921 Finland gains Åland Islands, retribution for Sweden's war role.
*  1932 Severe recession. Social Democrat government elected under Per Albin Hansson. 
*  1939–1945 Sweden neutral. Grants transit rights to German forces.
*  1945–1976 Continuing Social Democratic rule under Tage Erlander shuns "Functional Socialism." Establishes Sweden as world's most advanced welfare state, and one of the most affluent. 
*  1950 Gustav VI Adolf becomes king.
*  1953 Nordic Council member.
*  1959 Founder-member of EFTA.
*  1969 Erlander succeeded by Olof Palme as prime minister.
*  1973 Carl XVI Gustav on throne.
*  1975 Major constitutional reform. Riksdag becomes unicameral with a 3-year term. Role of monarchy reduced to ceremonial functions.
*  1976 SDAP lose power. Non-socialist coalition led by Thorbjörn Fälldin in government. 
*  1978 Fälldin resigns over issue of nuclear power. Ola Ullsten prime minister.
*  1979 Fälldin prime minister again.
*  1982 Elections. SDAP forms minority government. Palme prime minister.
*  1986 Palme shot dead. His deputy, Ingvar Carlsson, prime minister. Police fail to find assassin.
*  1989 Palme murder suspect acquitted.
*  1990 Carlsson introduces moderate austerity package. Cuts government spending, raises indirect taxes.
*  1991 July: Sweden applies to join the EU. September: SDAP remains largest party but is unable to form government; Carlsson resigns. October: Carl Bildt, leader of the Moderate Party (MS), forms coalition of non-socialist parties. 
*  1992 Austerity measures succeed in reducing inflation. November: SDAP refuses to support further cuts in government expenditure.
*  1993 Negotiations for EU membership begin. MS coalition survives vote of no confidence.
*  1994 Terms of EU membership settled. September: elections bring in SDAP minority government.