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Sample questions: Sweden's modern history

From farming country to welfare state: industrialisation, the breakthrough of democracy, the folkhem and globalisation.

Two hundred years ago Sweden was a poor farming country. During the 19th century industry grew, the population doubled and over a million Swedes emigrated to the USA between 1850 and 1920. In 1809 a new constitution limited the king's power, and in 1865 more people gained the vote. Popular movements — among them the labour movement, the free-church movement, the women's movement and the temperance movement — pushed democracy forward by lawful means. In 1909 almost all men got the vote, in 1918 universal suffrage was decided, and in 1921 the first Riksdag election was held in which both men and women could vote. Sweden was neutral in both world wars. The Saltsjöbaden Agreement of 1938 laid the basis for the Swedish model, and Per Albin Hansson formulated the idea of the folkhem in 1928. The record years 1945–1976 brought strong growth, the 40-hour week, five weeks' holiday and the Million Programme. From the 1970s Sweden became an information society and a multicultural country.

The questions below are written by Medborgarklar for practice. They are not taken from a real test, they are not published by UHR, and we do not claim they have appeared in a sitting.

8 questions with answers and explanations

What kind of country was Sweden two hundred years ago?

1. AA high-tech information society
2. BA rich industrial country
3. CA country without its own government
4. DA poor farming country where almost the whole population lived in the countryside

Correct answer: D. A poor farming country where almost the whole population lived in the countryside

Why: Two hundred years ago Sweden was a typical farming country. Almost the entire population lived in the countryside and worked the land and animals. Compared with other European countries, Sweden was then a poor country.

What does the Swedish model in the labour market mean?

1. AEmployers and trade unions, not politicians, agree the terms in collective agreements
2. BEmployers alone decide the terms
3. CThe state sets all wages
4. DThe courts set wages every year

Correct answer: A. Employers and trade unions, not politicians, agree the terms in collective agreements

Why: In 1938 the Saltsjöbaden Agreement was concluded between employers and trade unions. It laid the foundation for the Swedish model, which means that employers and trade unions, not politicians, agree labour market terms in collective agreements.

In which year was the first Riksdag election in which both men and women could vote?

1. A1918
2. B1909
3. C1921
4. D1945

Correct answer: C. 1921

Why: In 1921 the first Riksdag election was held in which both men and women could vote and women could be elected as members. Sweden had thereby become a democracy.

Where did over a million Swedes emigrate between 1850 and 1920?

1. ATo the USA
2. BTo Russia
3. CTo Australia
4. DTo Germany

Correct answer: A. To the USA

Why: Sweden was still poor and many found it hard to get work. Over a million Swedes emigrated to the USA between 1850 and 1920 hoping for a better life.

Which were four of the largest popular movements in Sweden?

1. AThe environmental, peace, sports and student movements
2. BThe industrial, trade, shipping and mining movements
3. CThe labour movement, the free-church movement, the women's movement and the temperance movement
4. DThe farmers', nobility, royalist and church movements

Correct answer: C. The labour movement, the free-church movement, the women's movement and the temperance movement

Why: Four of the largest popular movements were the labour movement, the free-church movement, the women's movement and the temperance movement. They used lawful methods to press demands such as suffrage and the eight-hour day.

What was the Saltsjöbaden Agreement of 1938?

1. AAn agreement on Sweden's EU membership
2. BA peace settlement with Russia
3. CA new constitution
4. DAn agreement between employers and trade unions that laid the basis for the Swedish model

Correct answer: D. An agreement between employers and trade unions that laid the basis for the Swedish model

Why: In 1938 an agreement was signed between employers and trade unions in Saltsjöbaden. It became important for cooperation between the parties and laid the basis for the Swedish model, where the parties — not politicians — agree on labour market conditions.

Who formulated the idea of the folkhem in 1928?

1. AGustav Vasa
2. BCarl XVI Gustaf
3. CPer Albin Hansson
4. DRaoul Wallenberg

Correct answer: C. Per Albin Hansson

Why: In 1928 the Social Democratic party leader Per Albin Hansson formulated the idea of the folkhem — a society where everyone could feel security and community, regardless of background.

What happened in Ådalen in 1931?

1. AThe Million Programme began
2. BThe Riksdag adopted universal suffrage
3. CSweden declared war on Germany
4. DThe military fired on demonstrating workers and several people were killed

Correct answer: D. The military fired on demonstrating workers and several people were killed

Why: In 1931 the military fired at workers demonstrating in Ådalen. Several people were killed and the event showed how deep the conflicts between employers and workers were.

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