Editing Schleswig-Holstein (section)

===Austro-Prussian War and Province of Prussia===
In 1866 the [[Austro-Prussian War]] broke out, in which Prussia quickly defeated Austria and its allies. In the 1866 [[Peace of Prague (1866)|Peace of Prague]] Prussia gained Holstein in addition to Schleswig and Lauenburg. Contrary to the hopes of German Schleswig-Holsteiners, the area did not gain its independence, but was annexed to Prussia, becoming the [[Province of Schleswig-Holstein]] in 1868; Lauenburg remained a separate entity until it was incorporated as {{lang|de|[[Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg]]}} in 1876. 

The Peace of Prague also led to the dissolution of the loose ([[confederal]]) Austrian-led [[German Confederation]] and the establishment of the far more integrated ([[Federalism|federal]]) Prussian-led [[North German Confederation]], of which Schleswig-Holstein was now part as a Prussian Province; the North German Confederation became the [[German Empire]] in 1871.

Section five of the Peace of Prague had also stipulated that the people of Northern Schleswig would be consulted in a [[referendum]] on whether to remain under Prussian rule or return to Danish rule. This condition, however, was never fulfilled by Prussia. During the decades of Prussian rule within the [[German Empire]], authorities attempted a [[Germanisation]] policy in the northern part of Schleswig, which remained predominantly Danish. The period also meant increased industrialisation of Schleswig-Holstein and the use of Kiel and Flensburg as important [[Imperial German Navy]] locations. The northernmost part and west coast of the province saw a wave of emigration to America, while some Danes of North Schleswig emigrated to Denmark.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}