The impact of the US constitution on the Norwegian constitution and on emigration to America

Abstract

The Bicentennial of the Norwegian Constitution in 2014 had special significance for everyone interested in constitutional developments and, in particular, the relationship between the Norwegian and the American Constitutions. These constitutions are the only ones to have survived from the revolutionary period between 1776 and 1814, which is why they have many similarities. However, this has not always been immediately apparent, not even among scholars of constitutional history. My intent here is, firstly, to point out some of these similarities and explain the influence the United States Constitution had on the Norwegian Constitution and, secondly, since there are also differences between the constitutions, I will attempt to discuss whether some of these differences may have had an impact on Norwegian emigration to the United States.