In March 1848, Copenhagen was full of rumours that Schleswig and Holstein had rebelled against Denmark, and the National Liberals took advantage of the situation by arranging protest demonstrations against King Frederick VII and his politics.

[1] On 21 March, King Frederick responded by dismissing his ministers and asking Carl Emil Bardenfleth to form a new government.

[2] Bardenfleth failed to reach a compromise with the National Liberals, however, and so did Peter Georg Bang whom the king had asked to take his place.

On the morning of 22 March the king begged Adam Wilhelm Moltke, the leader of the previous cabinet, to lead a government of responsible ministers, effectively ending the absolute monarchy.

Some of the terms in the table end after 15 November 1848 because the minister was in the Cabinet of Moltke II as well.