Editing Unification of Germany (section)

=== The Schleswig-Holstein Question ===
{{Main|Schleswig–Holstein question}}

The first episode in the saga of German unification under Bismarck came with the Schleswig-Holstein Question. On 15 November 1863, [[Christian IX of Denmark|Christian IX]] became king of Denmark and duke of [[Duchy of Schleswig|Schleswig]], [[Duchy of Holstein|Holstein]], and [[Saxe-Lauenburg#Post-Napoleon|Lauenburg]], which the Danish king held in [[personal union]]. On 18 November 1863, he signed the [[History of Schleswig-Holstein#The November Constitution|Danish November Constitution]] which replaced The Law of Sjælland and The Law of Jutland, which meant the new constitution applied to the Duchy of Schleswig. The [[German Confederation]] saw this act as a violation of the [[London Protocol (1852)|London Protocol of 1852]], which emphasized the status of the Kingdom of Denmark as distinct from the three independent duchies. The German Confederation could use the ethnicities of the area as a rallying cry: Holstein and Lauenburg were largely of German origin and spoke German in everyday life, while Schleswig had a significant Danish population and history. Diplomatic attempts to have the November Constitution repealed collapsed, and fighting began when Prussian and Austrian troops crossed the [[Eider (river)|Eider river]] on 1 February 1864.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Initially, the Danes attempted to defend their country using an ancient earthen wall known as the ''[[Danevirke]]'', but this proved futile. The Danes were no match for the combined Prussian and Austrian forces and their modern armaments. The [[needle gun]], one of the first [[bolt action rifle]]s to be used in conflict, aided the Prussians in both this war and the [[Austro-Prussian War]] two years later. The rifle enabled a Prussian soldier to fire five shots while lying prone, while its muzzle-loading counterpart could only fire one shot and had to be reloaded while standing. The [[Second Schleswig War]] resulted in victory for the combined armies of Prussia and Austria, and the two countries won control of Schleswig and Holstein in the concluding [[Treaty of Vienna (1864)|peace of Vienna]], signed on 30 October 1864.{{Sfn|Holt|Chilton|1917|p=75}}
{{clear}}