History of Switzerland

Although inhabited as of prehistory, the first writings concerning the area are those of Jules César with his comments on the Guerre of Gaules. Thus the Celtic period can be regarded as one period proto-history.

Prehistoric Switzerland

One found vestiges archaeological of the cultures of the Moustérien (- 100 000), Magdalénien, Azilien, Sauveterrien and Tardenoisien. But the principal vestiges date from the Neolithic and the introduction of the Agriculture to the thousand-year-old Life. The average Neolithic era until the Bronze Age is characterized by the lake habitats and the littoral villages. One finds there in particular civilization campaniform.

These villages were abandoned at the end of at the time of the Civilization of Hallstatt. As of this time lived on the territory of the Celte S, to which the posterior civilization of Tène was identified, of the name of the site éponyme located in the Canton of Neuchâtel.

Celtic Switzerland

Migrations

The day before the War of Gaules

The day before the War of Gaules, various Celtic populations live the territory of current Switzerland:

the Swiss Plateau is occupied by Helvètes;
part of the the Jura and the area of Basle is with the hands of the Rauraques;
the Tessin is populated of Lépontiens;
Were worth it is divided between the Nantuates, the Véragres, the Sédunes and the Ubères;
Geneva seems to be a Oppidum Allobroges;
the Rhètes occupy part of Eastern Switzerland and Grisons.

Gallo-Roman Switzerland

The intervention of Jules César (58-44 av. J. - C.) and integration with the young empire

Fearing to be isolated from the other Celts because of advance of Germanic tribes, Helvètes decide to emigrate towards the west of the France, the country of Saintonges, a allied Gallic tribe. They burn their villages and take the road, more than one hundred thousand Helvètes are found thus on the road. Jules César, then proconsul of Gaulle Narbonnese, pushes back them at the time of the battle of Bibracte (58 av. J. - C.) and the constrained one to turn over on their premises. The colony of veterans of Nyon is founded.

Under Auguste, the colony Augusta Raurica, close to Basle, is founded. Auguste integrates all the alpine area in the Empire. The territory helvète belongs consequently to Provincia Belgica. The Valaisan tribes and Rhètes remain on the other hand independent until their conquest by Tibère and Drusus towards -7. They are then joined together for a time in the province of Rhétie whose capital was Augsburg.

First military occupation (1st century)

Switzerland, broadside in north by the the Rhine, is a strategically important frontier zone of the Empire. It is militarily occupied and of the permanent military camps, such Augusta Raurica, is installed in the north of Switzerland. The highway network is consolidated, of the new cities, as the Forum Claudii Vallensium are created. The old Celtic elites are romanisent. Old the principal Oppidum of Helvètes, Aventicum (Avenches), becomes a true Roman city and the main city of the area.

Towards 47, the Valais is transformed into an autonomous province, the Vallis poenina and in 89 the territory of the Helvètes is attached to the higher province of Germanie, whose capital is current the Mainz.

Period without military occupation (IIe and 3rd centuries)

Pax Romana reigns on the Roman Empire, the borders moved back towards north and Switzerland is not any more one frontier zone. Latin is spoken in Switzerland, it is one period of economic prosperity.

However, towards the end of IIIe century, of the cruel incursions into Germanic bring back the border on the Rhine, Alamans make raids in Swiss territory, in particular in 260 where many cities are plundered. They do not settle there however yet.

Second occupation military (end IIIe and 4th centuries)

The Rhine is again a border of the Roman Empire. The situation became worrying in particular at the 4th century, the Roman Emperors make build defensive lines all along the Rhine (fortresses and turns of guet).

End of the Roman domination

In 401, the Roman troops leave the the Rhine to gain the south of the the Alps; so the Romans give up the territory of Switzerland definitively. The anxious population migrates towards the south, of many cities are abandoned. The center and is country are very strongly depopulated.

Invasions

Towards 443, the Burgondes are established in the west of the country. Those are assimilated to the Gallo-Roman population and the language Latin E is preserved, reason for which the French is spoken in French-speaking Switzerland.

Towards the end of the 6th century only, the Alamans in the search of cultivable grounds are established gradually in Switzerland, in the center and is country. Alamans become majority and impose their Germanic dialects.

The Eastern Alps were touched little, one speaks there still today a Latin dialect, the Romanche sometimes called Rhéto-roman .

The Tessin, left southern Switzerland, belonging to the Gaulle cisalpine remained in the Italian bosom.

Switzerland under the domination of the German ones

See the detailed article: Switzerland with the Early middle ages

When the Roman Empire weakens, it authorizes Germanic people, known as federated, to be installed on its territory. These people receive ground and part of the incomes, in exchange they must ensure the safety of the territory. Burgondes receive in 443 an area called Sapaudie, the country of the fir trees, which corresponds to the current Savoy and most of the Swiss plate. Burgondes transform soon Sapaudie into a true kingdom (in 476, shortly after that Odoacre deposited the last emperor Romulus Augustule) and increased it considerably in the valley of the Rhone (Lyon) and control Were worth it and the alpine collars.

The domination burgonde was short: Sigismond is overcome by the Francs in 534 and its kingdom annexed by those. The Francs support the installation of the Alamans which they had overcome on the Swiss Plate. The frank kingdom is transformed little by little into an empire; thus, it is quite naturally that Switzerland belonged to the empire of Charlemagne; thereafter, to the dislocation of the Lotharingie, it returns first of all to the Kingdom of Burgundy before being torn between the duchies of Burgundy and Alémanie.

Feudal Switzerland

However in the Germanic kingdoms, the duchies and the counties are not hereditary. It is only at the end of the 9th century that the Féodalité is formed little by little. At that time Switzerland is divided by two powerful areas of influence: the duchy of Souabe, or Alémanie, in the east, Burgundy transjurane in the west.

Various big families try to sit their authority on various parts of the Swiss territory: the counts de Savoie on Vaud, Geneva, (of which they évincent the counts de Genève) and the Valais; the counts de Gruyère on the back Freibourgese country; the Zähringen found many cities of which Freiburg and Bern; the Kybourg on the plate; the Hohenstaufen and the Habsbourg on the area inhabitant of Zurich and the collar of Gotthard.

The omnipresence and the seizure of the Habsbourg, their will to extend their domination and to seize the richnesses of the small duchies and Swiss counties worry a minor nobility which is not size to be opposed to their power and has of another choice only to be used for these “foreigners” to live or perish by refusing their authority. On their side, the poor peasants support the heavy royalties more and more badly that they must discharge for the only profit of an external aristocracy, which imposes to them foreign laws with the contempt of the old habits of free people which see his threatened freedom. Those of the high valleys of the Lac of the Four-Cantons tested well, in 1240, to be opposed by the revolt to this threat, but they failed and were repressed hard. In the plain also, the cities try to break this capacity which devours them. Bern is risked, and lost there. Zurich is seen ruined or almost.

The pact of 1291

See the detailed article: Confederation of the III cantons

The installation of the collar of Gotthard, using Walsers recently immigrant and experts in constructions of north winds, at the beginning of the 13th century has important consequences: the collar of the Large-Saint-Bernard in Valais loses of its importance in the international traffic, involving a two centuries economic crisis in the valley of the High-Rhone. Gotthard enriches the inhabitants by Uri who perceive tolls and sell their services (guides, inns…) thus poking covetousnesses of Habsbourg. Habsbourg wishing to control the passage of Gotthard, in April 1291, Rodolphe de Habsbourg repurchases the rights on Lucerne, at the end of the Lac of the Four-Cantons.

Thus, after the death of Rodolphe de Habsbourg, the July 15th 1291, in preparation for possible disorders of succession, the free men of the valleys of Uri, Schwytz and Nidwald renew in August (unknown exact date) a legal and defensive treaty of alliance eternal. Forgotten a long time, this pact was redécouvert only at the 18th century and published in its original Latin version in 1760 by Johann Heinrich Gleser. This pact was selected like federal Pacte only at the end of the 19th century. On the initiative of the Federal council it is commemorated each year starting from 1899 and is celebrated for the first time at the time of its 7th centenary in 1991, the date of having been selected like national Festival Swiss. Previously, the foundation of the Confederation was placed at the November 8th 1307, date of the Serment of Grütli according to Gilg Tschudi.

Such defensive pacts were not rare at that time. On the current Swiss territory, the oldest case of populations being combined against their prince goes back to 1182 where, at the time of the Patto di Torre , the communities of the Val Blenio and the Léventine, in the current Tessin, are allied to fight against the lords di Torre.

One can also announce other confederations which appeared at the 13th century on the territory of current Switzerland: most known Burgundian Confédération is the , centered on Bern, which will gather a good part of Western in a network of heterogeneous alliances and not-perpetual Switzerland (Freiburg, Soleure, Neuchâtel, Country of Vaud, the Valais, etc).

It is at that time that the legend of Guillaume Tell is. The situation will worsen between the Waldstätten and Habsbourgs during the interregnum which follows the death of Henri VII of Luxembourg in 1313. First of all Schwytz attacks the Couvent of Einsiedeln the January 6th 1314; but the three communities take make and cause for Louis of Bavaria against Habsbourg Frederic the Beautiful, after the Double election of Wittelsbach, the November 25th 1314.

The duke of Austria Léopold, younger brother of Frederic, launches a double attack in 1315. The first column runs up against confederated against the Bataille of Morgarten, the November 15th. The Austrians undergo a true rout vis-a-vis an army of peasants. The second column, which moved towards Unterwald, is withdrawn then without fighting.

Following this victory, confederated renew their alliance, at the time of the Pacte of Brunnen, the December 9th 1315. Written in German, it is in this text that appears for the first confederated time the term of; this text also prohibits to the signatories to bind with foreign powers. It was repealed only with the foundation of the Swiss République in 1798.

The confederation of the VIII cantons

See the detailed article: Confederation of the VIII cantons

In the forty years space, a true network of defensive alliances is formed: Lucerne in 1332, Zurich in 1351, Zoug in 1352, Glaris in 1352, and Bern in 1353. The purpose of this last alliance was also to prevent any claim obwaldienne on the Bernese Oberland, back rural, prone country of the city.

These is consequently eight small States which are connected by a network of alliance and one speaks consequently about the Confédération of the VIII cantons .

It is in 1370 that the first deepening of alliance took place: the Charter of the Priests . This document unifies the existing law and makes each man equal in front of the law. Justice is returned same manner, by local judges, that one is noble or commoner, whether one is laic or monk.

But Habsbourgs had not given up their claims. By twice they try to overcome the cantons, by twice they fail: the first time, in 1386 at the time of the Battle of Sempach, the second, in 1388, at the time of the Battle of Naefels. This double victory consolidates the alliance of the eight communities. In 1393, they sign the Agreeing of Sempach which defines military rules of lasting behavior, and after, the engagements as well as the manner of engaging a conflict, which can the being only after one common deliberation.

The Swiss cantons had then more or less ensured their independence with respect to the local lords, while remaining subjects of the Saint Germanic Roman Empire; the 15th century will see a phase of expansion of Confédérés which will conquer the neighbouring territories and will conclude from alliances with many areas of the neighborhoods (Appenzell, Valais, Saint-Gall)

They is joint which they plan and carry out, at the expense of Habsbourgs and with the blessing of the emperor, the conquest of the Argovie (1415) of which a part is managed in the form of a common Baillage.

The desire of expansion does not go without clashes: to died from the count Frederic VII of Toggenbourg, without successor, Confederated, particularly Schwytz and Zurich, between-will tear to be distributed the Toggenbourg. It was the Ancienne war of Zurich which lasted of 1436 with 1450.

Lastly, the Thurgovie is conquered in 1460 and is transformed into common Baillage.

During the War of Burgundy (1474-1477), the Swiss ones, Bern at the head, will beat Charles Bold the at the time of the battles of Grandson, Morat and Nancy.

Nevertheless, at the time of the peace which followed, Bern could keep only the area of Eagle and, as a bailliage common with Freiburg Grandson, Morat and Échallens: the other cantons did not wish that Bern controls all the country of Vaud, because it would have been too powerful. Freiburg and Soleure, having taken part in the wars of Burgundy at the sides of Confédérés will join them in what will become the Confédération of the XIII cantons.

The confederation of the XIII cantons

See the detailed article: Confederation of the XIII cantons

At the end of the Guerres of Burgundy two new cantons knock on the door of the Confederation: Freiburg and Soleure. But the cantons are divided on their adhesion and the civil war threatens. It is finally a hermit, Nicolas de Flue, which manages to propose a compromise: the Being appropriate of Stans in 1481, Freiburg and Soleure are allowed in the Confederation.

Following the defeat of Burgundian, the emperor Maximilien reorganized the Holy roman Empire. In particular, it founded an imperial court and a new tax, the imperial centime , in 1495. Confédérés refused to be subjected to it and overcame the imperial troops as well as a coalition of cities of the south of Germany, at the time of the Guerres of Souabe (December 1498 - September 1499). The treated of Basle of the 22" William, Martin, " History of Suisse" , ED Payot, Lausanne, 1963, p82" September 1499 marked independence de facto Swiss cantons with respect to the Empire. She will be recognized of swears only in 1648 at the time of the Traités of Westphalia.

The revolution

First movements

The conflicts between sovereign subjects and cantons continued throughout the 18th century. Thus of 1719 with 1722, the " rising of Werdenberg" place against Glaris had. In 1723, it is the major Abraham Davel who tries to raise the Of Vaud ones against the Berneses. Denounced by its fellow-citizens, he was decapitated with Vidy.

In 1749, it is the " Henzi" conspiracy; against the Bernese patriciat, in 1755 the " Livin" rising; against Uri and in 1781 the " Chenaux" rising; against Freiburg.

But they are only specific risings in order to obtain or to maintain specific rights. Put aside the attempt at Davel, none is truly revolutionary.

The status quo is thus maintained, and the attempts of évêché at Basle to join the Confederation remain unfruitful. In the same way, the incorporation of the Prussian principality of Neuchâtel, like Geneva and Vaud, in the zone of neutrality recognized by France hardly have success.

French invasion of 1792 and 1798

The revolutionary armies had penetrated on the current territory of Switzerland as of 1792: évêché of Basle, briefly independent under the name of Republic rauracian, had been integrated into France under the name of department of the Mount-Terrible , including/understanding the current districts of Porrentruy and Delémont, the March 23rd 1793; the principality of Montbeliard, hitherto integrated into the department of Haute-Saône, is attached there in 1797. The remainder of the the Bernese Jura is gradually attached to the department in 1797 and 1798. The department of the Mount-Terrible will be entirely attached to the Haut-Rhin, the February 17th 1800.

In 1798, seizing the pretext of a minor incident, the French troops invade all the country; resistance weak, is put aside to Bern and in central Switzerland. In the other cantons, they are relatively well accommodated. The two victories with the Grauholz and Fraubrunnen involve the capitulation of Bern, hardly supported by its allies.

The French will make of Switzerland a unit State on the French model: the Swiss Republic.

The Swiss Republic

The Swiss République was a centralized and unit State. It was controlled by a directory which named the governors of the cantons, the latter were not sovereign any more and had become simple administrative divisions. The cantons of then did not have any more large-thing of the preceding borders: Bern lost thus not only the canton of Vaud and Argovie, but also Oberland. The Baden became a canton, as well as Thurgovie, the Grisons were integrated into the Republic under the name of Rhétie, as Were worth it. The Italian bailliages formed two cantons: Bellinzone and Lugano. Zoug, Uri, Schwytz and Unterwald, including the convent of Einsiedeln, and the old republic independent of Gersau, were gathered in the single canton of the Waldstätten. Glaris, Appenzell, Saint-Gall and the bailliages of the valley of the Rhine are distributed between the cantons of Säntis and Linth. Mulhouse and Geneva were integrated into France, Valteline in the States of Italy of North. As for the Principality of Neuchâtel, it preserves its independence, its Prussian sovereign being then in peace with France.

In addition to the European conflicts (Battle of Zurich in 1799), the conflicts between the centralizers and the federalists were ceaseless. In summer 1802 starts a federalistic revolt against the Swiss République, the Stecklikrieg. In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte intervened and imposed a new constitution: the Act of Mediation.

The Act of Mediation

The Act of Mediation, new constitution imposed by Napoleon in 1803, makes it possible to calm the internal tensions. The cantons find, more or less, their traditional borders. Nevertheless, Bern remains amputated by the Country of Vaud, which remains a canton, and by Argovie, which amalgamating with Baden, form the canton of Argovie. The canton of Saint-Gall is also formed of the meeting of the territories of the city and the abbey of Saint-Gall with certain numbers of old bailliages common (Sargans, Rheintal…). The canton of Tessin is formed by the meeting of the Italian bailliages and the Grisons form a new canton, formed of the meeting of the three gray leagues (without their bailliages).

Lastly, in order to guarantee the control of the alpine collars, Were worth it leaves Switzerland and becomes independent. It will be annexed by the French Empire in 1810.

During the Mediation, Switzerland was a true French protectorate and the important decisions were made in Paris.

The Confederation of the XXII cantons

Restoration (1815-1830) and regeneration (1830-1848)

Following the French defeat, Switzerland lives to pass various foreign armies, which being nourished on the spot, involved problems of famine among the population.

The old elites of the various cantons hastened to try to restore the situation of before 1798, partially supported by the European powers which were also in favor of a restoration of the old mode.

Nevertheless, if the federal pact of 1815 restored a confederation, it differed however on certain numbers of points of the former situation. First of all, instead of a network of heterogeneous alliances, the whole of the cantons are bound by only one treaty. In addition to the cantons lately created by the Act of mediation (Vaud, Argovie, Grisons, Tessin and Thurgovie), three new cantons join Switzerland: were worth, Geneva (to which France and Piedmont-Sardinia allot some territories in order to ensure a territorial continuity to him) and Neuchâtel, which remains nevertheless a Prussian principality. The Confédération of the XXII cantons was born.

The Traité of Vienna also allotted the Jurassic part of évêché of Basle and the area of Bienne to the canton of Bern, in compensation of the loss of Argovie and the Country of Vaud. The bailliages of Valpelline and Bormio, lost by the gray leagues in 1798, are it definitively: the refusal of these three leagues to grant the equality on their old subjects in is a major cause. The border of the Swiss State will not undergo any more change.

Lastly, the allies recognize the perpetual neutrality country.

The Sonderbund

The Federal state

Deepening of the institutions

The new Federal state resulting from the Constitution of 1848 revolutionized Switzerland. Indeed, of important prerogatives were consequently reserved for the Federal state dominated by radical-liberalism. Indeed, the majority Système used for the federal elections eliminates practically the conservative opposition, overcome at the time it Sonderbund, of the capacity.

A customs union and monetarist were founded, abolishing the customs, the borders and the currencies cantonal and regional. Thus, it is by the federal law on the currency of May 7th, 1850 that the Swiss franc was created, which circulated as of 1852; this law founded a monetary system similar to that of France and the first Swiss coins were struck with Paris and Strasbourg. This similarity made it possible Switzerland to belong to the Latin Monetary Union of its creation in 1865 with its dissolution in 1926.

In 1854, the Polytechnikum of Zurich is founded; the railroads, deprived, start to be born on all the Swiss Plate.

In 1856 and 1857, it is the Affaire of Neuchâtel, at the same time Swiss canton and Prussian Principauté: the king of Prussia wishes to integrate the canton in his State and the war is close, the federal army is mobilized on the the Rhine. Finally, it yields and gives up its prerogatives.

Switzerland still seeks its foreign policy and in 1860, it is the Affaire of Savoy where the Federal council, taken along by Jakob Stämpfli considers the occupation of the Chablais and the Faucigny, zone neutral since 1815, recently become French. The federal Parliament will not follow the government. Consequently, the Confederation will be held with a policy of strict neutrality.

In 1870, Switzerland mobilizes its army during the Franco-German Guerre; it is the general Hans Herzog who occupies the border. It was one difficult period: the imports were difficult, Switzerland having commercial relations only through France or of the countries of the German Customs union; moreover the war suspicion on the Latin Monetary Union involved, which involved a loss of confidence towards the credit: all the transactions were carried out suddenly in cash and the number of coins was strongly insufficient so much so that the government gave legal tender to foreign currencies. Lastly, of many refugees flowed, in particular the 85 000 men of the French army of the East, of the general Charles Denis Bourbaki who were interned in full winter, whose arrival caused a momentum of solidarity in the population.

Little by little, and first of all in the cantons, of new popular rights, the right of legislative Referendum and the right to take initiatives constitutional are granted to the citizens. In 1868, the majority system is abandoned with the profit of the Système proportional, more representative. The same year, thanks to the Convention of Mannheim, Switzerland obtains a maritime outlet: the the Rhine becomes international water between the last bridge of Basle and its mouth.

During the crisis of 1873, one witnesses a rise of the Antisémitisme, the Juifs being shown to be the cause of the crisis.

Kulturkampf and centralization

The revision of the constitution of 1874 still grants new prerogatives to the Federal state, and the Federal court, from now on permanent, is established with Lausanne. The elementary school became obligatory, just as the behavior of a register of civil statue.

This revision took place during the Kulturkampf movement preaching the laicization of the State and wishing to restrict the rights of the Catholic church. Thus the revision contained some constitutional articles, the Articles of exception restricting freedoms of worship and expression, in particular with respect to the Catholicisme. In 1874, the diplomatic relations between Switzerland and the the Holy See are broken.

The situation starts to slacken as of 1891 where the catholic conservatives obtain a seat with the federal executive.

The continuous Centralization of the capacity: in 1891, the Confederation is seen entrusting the monopoly of the emission of banknotes , which will involve, in 1907, the creation of the Swiss national Banque in charge of this task, as well as all monetary policy.

In 1898, the criminal law and the civil law in their entirety does not become his prerogative, the cantons not having any more but one subsidiary capacity to legislate in these fields. Also, of the federal penal codes civilian were worked out, then adopted, followed by a commercial code, the code of the obligations. In spite of that, the codes of procedures remained cantonal until recently.

It is at this period that the first social progress is to be announced: in 1877 the daily duration of work is limited to 11 a.m., and 6 days weekly. In 1890, the Confederation receives the responsibility of introduce an insurance in the event of accident or of disease and the right gives him to make them compulsory either for the whole of the inhabitants, or for one or of the particular categories.

The First World War

When the First World War bursts, the population is divided: the German-speaking part leans side of the central empires, while Romandie has more sympathy to the Allies. The Federal council receives the full-capacities and the federal Parliament names Ulrich Wille as Swiss general.

This nomination does not achieve the unanimity, Ulrich Wille being judged too near to Germany from which he admires the military organization. Moreover, Kaiser is the godfather of the one of his children.

If the Swiss troops, prepared relatively well and supplied, do not suffer too much from the war, the Swiss population must tighten the belt. In 1915, the Federal council grants the monopoly of the distribution of cereals the confederation in order to try to fight against the exorbitant prices of the black-market.

The Traité of Versailles recognizes the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland, in exchange of the abandonment of the right, more than theoretical, obtained into 1815 to occupy Savoy in the event of conflict. A plebiscite is organized with the Vorarlberg as for its fastening with the Confederation. The inhabitants are of agreement, but finally the Allies will attach the area to the Republic of Austria.

The social difficulties generated by the war led to the General strike of 1918 started the shortly after the armistice by the Comité of Olten. The strike was broken by the threat of the intervention of the army and was regarded a long time as a defeat of the Socialists. Nevertheless, it seems to have had an influence on the political decisions of the country: as of 1919, the National council was elected with the proportional one, then to the beginning of the year 1920, the weekly working time was limited to 48 hours.

The interval wars

The interval wars is first of all marked by the end of the radical majority: with the elections of 1919, the Swiss Radical party loses 45 of the 105 seats which it held, following the abandonment of the majority system. The same year a second seat at the Federal council is allotted to the Party Christian-Democrat. Thereafter, in 1929, a seat will be also allotted to the Party of the Craftsmen, future democratic Union of the center. On the other hand, the Swiss Socialist party remains isolated executive by the coalition with the capacity, consequences of the fear of the Communism which remains, exacerbated by the memory of the General strike of 1918.

The foreign policy is based on armed neutrality. Switzerland adheres in 1920 to the Société of the Nations whose seat is with Geneva. The principle of adhesion, voted on May 16th, 1920 with 56.3%, is acquired thanks to a strong majority in the French-speaking cantons (93.2% in the canton of Vaud). The withdrawal of the Germany and the Italy in second half of years 1930 complicate the policy of neutrality of Switzerland, which decides not to more apply the economic sanctions against Italy decided by the SDN.

The interior policy polarizes in two opposed faces, the left and the right-hand side; each part using of the weapon of the referendum to block the decisions which it does not like. The government then uses much the urgent federal stopped , which cannot be disputed in popular decision. The large captains of industry take an active share in the drafting of the laws and one attends a true policy extraparlementaire.

Economically, Switzerland is shaken by a first crisis in 1921 and 1922, then it undergoes full whip, but with a few years of delay because of existence of large building sites, the world-wide crisis of 1929. It must even devaluate the Swiss franc of 30% in 1936.

The beginning of the year 1930 is marked by the rise of the Fronts , movements fascisants heirs to the organizations anticommunists born of the strike of 1918. These movements have a certain success first of all, but their ideas are opposed too much to the Swiss federalism and the middle-class parties move away soon from them. The confrontations between the extreme left and the extreme-right-hand side culminate in 1932 where the November 9th, at the time of the shooting of Geneva, the army shoots at crowd making 13 killed and 65 wounded. The following year, it is the Printemps of the faces which sees the extreme-right-hand side trying to make pass without success of the popular initiatives modifying the federal Constitution.

Second half of the years 1930 sees a change of the political climate: the faces lose of their importance and the various parties, of left like line, adhere to the common idea spiritual national defense which culminates with the national exposure of 1939 to Zurich, the landi . During this period, the government also prepares the country has a military conflict: the Europe is armed quickly and the Federal council wishes to avoid the problems of provisioning of the First World War.

The Second world war

Contrary to the First World War, the Suisse is not taken with not deprived in 1939. The provisioning is ensured, the army, directed by the popular one, and rassemblor, general Henri Guisan occupies the border. Rationing guarantees the subsistence of the population, and in particular of the families of the soldiers in service.

Switzerland remains neutral and posts its will to defend itself. The French defeat of 1940 returns the critical situation: the country is entirely surrounded by the forces of the Axis. An ambiguous speech of the Federal adviser Marcel Pintail-Golaz which seems to indicate the need for treating with the dictatorships causes protests. The July 25th 1940, in its Report/ratio of Grütli, in front of a floor of officers, the Guisan general reaffirms the will of the country clearly to be defended. It conceives then the strategy of the national Réduit which consists to dismantle the borders and to reinforce the mountainous back-country in order to allow a war of attrition.

Undergoing pressures of the two groups of belligerents, the position of Switzerland will be sometimes ambiguous. It opened its borders with the Jews fleeing the Nazi regime, but in a sporadic and nonsystematic way. (On the report/ratio of Switzerland in the Nazi Germany, to see the emission Time Present lost honor of Switzerland.)

In interior policy, one can note the accession of a first Socialist at the Federal council, as of 1943.

The Cold war

During the post-war period, Switzerland continues to develop the Social state. As of 1946, the Assurance-vieillesse and surviving is accepted, ensuring a retirement all the population. It will be supplemented in 1972 by the system of the three pillars.

In 1959, a second Socialist enters to the Federal council, establishing the magic formula which will remain unchanged until in 2003.

On the external level, Switzerland remains apart from UNO, of NATO and preaches a strict armed neutrality. Even if it is not interested in ECSC and the EEC in formation, it becomes member of the the Council of Europe in 1963 and of the EFTA in 1960, conceived like a counterweight with the incipient EEC.

The female vote, existing already in certain cantons, is accepted in the federal plan in 1971. The denominational problems of the 19th century are forgotten and the Articles of exception are essentially abolished in 1973.

The end of the Années 1960 is marked by the Jurassic Question claiming the separation of the Bernese districts French-speaking and the constitution of a 23e canton. Finally, a plebiscite will be organized in 1974 and the catholic French-speaking districts accept the creation of the new entity, whereas the Protestant districts vote for the maintenance in the Canton of Bern. Following the federal voting of 1978, the new canton, catholic, is born on January 1st 1979.

During this period, Switzerland is the most prosperous country of the world. In spite of the Oil crisis of 1973 and the introduction of a few Sundays without car, chemical industry, textile as well as the banks employ many inhabitants. Unemployment rate remains lower than 3% and Switzerland continues on the plan external a policy of strict neutrality and proposes its good officess to settle the disagreements. Thus the first meeting between Mikhail Gorbatchev and Ronald Reagan took place with Geneva. The European head office of UNO in this same city also makes it possible the Parliament to audition of the people, such Yasser Arafat, who cannot go to the the United States.

The turning of the millenium

The fall of Communism and the unanimous reprobation of the invasion of the Kuwait by the Iraq upset the Swiss policy. In a multipolar world, it must adapt. At the same period, an important economic crisis breaks the dream of an economic superiority of the country: unemployment climbs with more than 6%, of many florets are restructured, some pass in foreign hands (Brown Bovery Company, amalgamating with Swedish Asea which occupies the major part of the leader stations). In spite of these reorganizations, the Swiss economy presents a powerful industry as well as financial sectors and banking very developed. The towns of Zurich and Geneva are world money markets today.

The pro-European forces, beaten in December 1992 during the voting on EEE, lose ground with the profit of the UDC, which modifies the Swiss political scene. Indeed, this party preaches the independence and the neutrality of the country with respect to the great supranational groups. The Swiss population thus does not seem ready to integrate the European Union only it judges dangerous for its direct democracy like for some of its key sectors of the economy, in particular the bank secrecy. By twice, the votings on the subject of Europe, clearly highlighted the reserves of the population to be adhered to the project Européen.

However, the Swiss people accept sectoral bilateral agreements with the European Union establishing the free-circulation of the people with the 15 European countries (as well as the three of the EFTA), a more close economic integration and integration in the European single sky. In 2005, the bilateral agreements are extended to the ten novel members of the EU.

The new constitution is adopted in 1998, but brings only minor changes.

The country is engaged since 1999, in an operation of the maintenance of peace in the countries of the ex Yugoslavia (Swisscoy).

In spite of these engagement international, in particular humane, Switzerland seems to want to remain outside large the world blocks, and to preserve its neutrality at all costs. It is not planned to integrate NATO.

After one decade difficult (1991 - 2001), the Suisse found a supported economic growth, and unemployment does not exceed the 3% of the active population. The economic reforms place it from now on among the most competitive countries of the world. Thanks to its political stability and its great capacity of innovation, Switzerland has GDP per capita 3rd higher in the world behind the Norway and the Luxembourg.

federal Pact of 1291
War of Sonderbund, the Business of Neuchâtel
cantonal stories: Were worth, Jurassic Question
recent Actualité in Switzerland: Chronology of historical Switzerland
Dictionary of Switzerland

Sources

Edgar Hello, Geschichte DER schweizerischen Neutralität , volume V, Basle, Helbing & Lichtenhahn, 1970.
Willi Gautschi, the Guisan General, command of the Swiss army during the Second world war , Lausanne, Payot, 1991.
New History of Switzerland and Swiss the , Lausanne, Payot, 1982.
François Schröter, borders of Switzerland: selected questions , Zurich, Schulthess/Paris, LGDJ/Brussels, Bruylant, 2007.

External bonds

Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
Swiss Diplomatic Documents (DDS)
Official site of the " Bergier" commission; charged with studying the economic relations of Switzerland with the Third Reich

SRG SR Timeline, audio-visual chronicle of contemporary Switzerland

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