Constitutional rights in conflict. The evolution of political and social rights in Denmark, 1849–1961

On June 5, 1849, King Frederik VII signed Denmark's first Constitution, marking the shift from autocracy to constitutional monarchy. The Constitution granted suffrage to a substantial portion of the male population but excluded women, servants, criminals, bankrupt individuals and recipients of poor relief. Although amendments in 1915 extended the vote to women and servants, exclusions based on economic independence persisted until 1959, when restrictions on bankrupt individuals and criminals were lifted. The final exclusion, which affected recipients of poor relief, was abolished in 1961. However, the 1849 Constitution also established poor relief as a constitutional right, creating a conflict between the political right to vote and the social right to receive relief. This chapter examines this conflict by focusing on the public poor relief recipients and their gradual political inclusion. Through the lens of citizenship, the chapter explores the interplay between gender, marital status and the practice of citizenship at the local level, illustrating the complex relationship between political and social rights in Danish history.