The modernization of Swedish society during the late 1800s and early 1900s is closely connected to the exploitation of the country’s natural resources and forestry in particular. The aim of this article is to analyse how the process of industrializa-tion was expressed in the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag). My hypothesis is that the “Norrland Question” (Norrlandsfrågan) in the main, is an ideological project. The story of how the farmers were robbed of their woodland has its origin in a time of rapid change when an agrarian society’s financial, social and ideological foundations were challenged by the supporting structure of the emerging industri-al revolution. It was compatible with the late 19th and early 20th century National-istic Project, as well as with parts of the socialist criticism of the capitalist society. Still, the similarities between “right” and “left” in the parliamentary debates exist only on the surface. My analysis has shown that even if socialist, liberal and con-servative members of Parliament could agree regarding what ought to be done, the underlying values and concepts of reality differ on fundamental issues.