Editing History of Denmark (section)

=== Nationalism and liberalism ===
{{see also|History of Schleswig-Holstein}}
[[File:Grundlovgivende rigsforsamling - Constantin Hansen.jpg|thumb|''Den Grundlovgivende Rigsforsamling''<br /> The Constitutional Assembly created The [[Constitution of Denmark|Danish constitution]], 1860–1864 painting by [[Constantin Hansen]].]]
The Danish [[Liberalism|liberal]] and [[nationalism|national]] movements gained momentum in the 1830s, and after the European revolutions of 1848 Denmark became a [[constitutional monarchy]] on 5 June 1849. The growing [[bourgeoisie]] had demanded a share in government, and in an attempt to avert the sort of bloody revolution occurring elsewhere in Europe, [[Frederick VII of Denmark|Frederick VII]] gave in to the demands of the citizens. A new constitution emerged, [[Separation of powers|separating the powers]] and granting the [[suffrage|franchise]] to all adult males, as well as freedom of the press, religion, and association. The king became head of the [[executive branch]]. The [[legislative branch]] consisted of two parliamentary chambers; the [[Folketing]], comprising members elected by the general population, and the [[Landsting (Denmark)|Landsting]], elected by landowners. Denmark also gained an independent [[judiciary]].

Another significant result of the revolution was the [[abolitionism|abolition of slavery]] in the [[Danish West Indies]], the Danish colony in the Caribbean, which at an earlier part of its history witnessed the biggest slave auctions in the world.<ref>Neville A.T. Hall, and B. W. Higman, ''Slave Society in the Danish West Indies: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix'' (Aarhus Universitetsforlag, 1992).</ref> In 1845 Denmark's other tropical colony, [[Tranquebar]] in India, was sold to Britain.

The Danish king's realm still consisted of the islands, the northern half of the [[Jutland]] peninsula, and the [[Duchy of Schleswig]] in [[real union]] with the [[Duchy of Holstein]].

[[File:Første Infanteriregiment i Haandgemæng med Regimentet Martini.png|thumb|left|Danish Infantry regiment in a fight with regiment "Martini". Contemporary illustration of the 1864 [[Second Schleswig War]].]]
The islands and Jutland together constituted the kingdom, whereas the monarch held the duchies in [[personal union]] with the kingdom. The duchy of Schleswig constituted a Danish [[fief]], while the Duchy of Holstein remained a part of the [[German Confederation]].

Since the early 18th century, and even more so from the early 19th century, the Danes had become used to viewing the duchies and the kingdom as increasingly unified in one [[Sovereign state|state]]. This view, however, clashed with that of the German majority in the duchies, also enthused by liberal and national trends, which led to a movement known as Schleswig-Holsteinism. Schleswig-Holsteinists aimed for independence from Denmark. The [[First Schleswig War]] (1848–1851) broke out after constitutional change in 1849 and ended with the ''status quo'' because of the intervention of [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and other Great Powers.

Much debate took place in Denmark as to how to deal with the question of Schleswig-Holstein. National-Liberals demanded permanent ties between Schleswig and Denmark, but stated that Holstein could do as it pleased. However, international events overtook domestic Danish politics, and Denmark faced war against both [[Prussia]] and [[Austria]] in what became known as the [[Second Schleswig War]] (1864). The war lasted from February to October 1864. Denmark was easily beaten by Prussia and Austria, and obliged to relinquish both Schleswig and Holstein.

The war caused Denmark as a nation severe trauma, forcing it to reconsider its place in the world. The loss of Schleswig-Holstein came as the latest in the long series of defeats and territorial loss that had begun in the 17th century. The Danish state had now lost some of the richest areas of the kingdom: Skåne to Sweden and Schleswig to Germany, so the nation focused on developing the poorer areas of the country. Extensive agricultural improvements took place in Jutland, and a new form of nationalism, which emphasized the "small" people, the decency of rural Denmark, and the shunning of wider aspirations, developed.