Switzerland History

The oldest human remains that exist in Switzerland date back about 150,000 years ago. [12] Moreover, agricultural tools were found in older Gächlingen and is estimated to date back to 5300 BC C. [12]

The oldest known tribes in the area belong to the Hallstatt and La Tene culture, named due to the archaeological site of La Tene, located north of Lake Neuchâtel. The Tène culture flourished in the late Iron Age, around 450 BC C., [13] possibly under the influence of Greek and Etruscan civilizations. One of the major ethnic groups in the region of Switzerland are the Helvetii. In 58 BC C., at the Battle of Bibracte, the forces of Julius Caesar defeated the Helvetii. [14] In 15 BC C. Tiberius, who later became Emperor of Rome, and Drusus the Great, conquered the Alps, integrating the growing Roman Empire. The area occupied by the Helvetii, hence the name Confoederatio Helvetica, became part of the Roman province of Gallia Belgica and later to the province Germania Superior, while the eastern portion of modern Switzerland was integrated into the Roman province of Raetia.

Founded in 44 BC C., Augusta Raurica was the first Roman settlement on the Rhine, and today is one of the most important archaeological sites of Switzerland. [15]

In the High Middle Ages, from the fourth century, the western part of today’s Switzerland was part of the territory of the Kingdom of Burgundy. The Alemanni settled the Swiss plateau in the V century AD C. and valleys of the Alps in the eighth century, forming Alemannia, and leaving the current territory of Switzerland divided between the kingdoms of Burgundy and Alemannia. [16] In the sixth century, the entire region became part of the Frankish Empire following Clovis I’s victory over the Alemanni at Tolbiac in the year 504. Later the Franks also dominate the Burgundians.

Between the ages VI and VIII Switzerland continued under Frankish hegemony (the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties). In 843, after reaching its maximum extent under the reign of Charlemagne, the Frankish Empire was divided in the Treaty of Verdun. [16] The territory of modern Switzerland was divided between France and France Middle East until it was unified by the Holy Roman Empire Roman Emperor in the eleventh century [16].

For the year 1200, the Swiss plateau comprised the dominions of the houses of Savoy, Zähringer, Habsburg and Kyburg. [17] Some regions (Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, later known as Waldstätten) were attached as an imperial nearby to ensure control of influence over the mountain passes. When the Kyburg dynasty fell in 1264, the Habsburgs under the command of King Rudolph I, who was Holy Roman Emperor in 1273, extended their territory east of the Swiss plateau.

The Old Swiss Confederacy was an alliance made by the communities of the central valleys of the Alps. The Confederacy facilitated the development of several common interests (free trade) and ensured peace in the major trade routes in the mountains. The Federal Charter of 1291 signed by the rural communities of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden is considered the document that laid the groundwork for the founding of the confederation, although it is likely that similar alliances had already existed in previous decades. [18] [19]

In 1353, the three original cantons had joined with the cantons of Glarus and Zug and the city states of Lucerne, Zurich and Bern to form the Old Confederation of eight states that existed until the late fifteenth century. Territorial expansion helped increase the power and wealth of the confederation. [19] In 1460, the Confederates controlled much of the territory south and west of the Rhine to the mountains of the Alps. In 1499 the Swiss victory over the Swabian League and the house of Habsburg in the Swabian War resulted in de facto independence of the Empire. [19]

The Old Swiss Confederacy had acquired a reputation of invincibility during these wars, but expansion of the Confederation in 1515 suffered a setback with defeat at the Battle of Marignano. This marked the end of the era called “heroic” history of Switzerland. [19] The success of the reform of Ulrich Zwingli in some cantons led to several internal wars in the country between 1529 and 1531 (Kappeler Kriege). Only in 1648, more than a century after these wars, Johann Rudolf Wettstein, as envoy of the Swiss Confederation, succeeded by skilful negotiations which powers signed the Treaty of Westphalia formally recognized the independence of Switzerland with respect to the Holy Roman Empire and its neutrality in wars (Ancien Régime).

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were marked by the growing authoritarianism of the ruling families. In 1653, these, combined with the financial crisis brought on by the Thirty Years War, the outbreak of the Swiss Peasants’ War. Added to this, he remained the religious conflict between the Catholic cantons and the Protestant cantons between 1656 and 1712 that led to violent clashes as the battle of Villmergen. [19]

In 1798, the forces of the French Revolution conquered Switzerland and imposed a new constitution. [19] This constitution centralized the government and abolished the cantons and the territories of Mulhouse and the Valtellina valley were separated from Switzerland. The new system, known as the Helvetic Republic, was highly unpopular. Had been imposed by an invading army and destroyed centuries of customs and traditions and turning Switzerland into a satellite state of France. The strong repression by France during the rebellion of Nidwalden (September 1798) was an example of the oppressive presence of the French army and local resistance to the occupation.

When war broke out between France and its rivals, the Russian and Austrian forces invaded Switzerland. The Swiss people refused to fight alongside the French on behalf of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803, Napoleon arranged a meeting with Swiss political leaders in Paris, the outcome of this meeting was a document called “Act of Mediation,” which largely restored Swiss autonomy and the Confederation of 19 cantons. [19] then, much of Swiss policy would aim to balance the tradition of autonomous cantons with the need for a central government.

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna fully re-established Swiss independence and the European powers agreed to permanently recognize the neutrality of the country. [19] The Swiss troops have served various governments until 1860, when they fought at the siege of Gaeta. The treaty also increased the surface area of Switzerland with the annexation of the cantons of Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva. The boundaries of Switzerland have not changed since then.

The canton of Bern was one of the three cantons who presided over the Tagsatzung (former executive and legislative council) with Lucerne and Zurich. The capital of Canton was chosen as the federal capital in 1848, mainly due to its closeness to the Francophone country. [20]

The restoration of power in Switzerland was only temporary. After a period of unrest with repeated violent clashes, like Züriputsch in 1839, civil war erupted in 1847 when some of the Catholic cantons attempted to establish an alliance between them (Sonderbundskrieg). [19] The war lasted less than a months causing less than a hundred victims, most of which were due to friendly fire. The Sonderbundskrieg seems very small compared to other conflicts that existed in nineteenth century Europe and in the history of Swiss society.

The war revealed to the inhabitants of Switzerland to the need for unity to strengthen its European neighbors. Swiss of all social strata, whether Catholic, Protestant, liberal or conservative, they realized that the cantons would progress more if they merged their economic and religious interests.

So while the rest of Europe was in the midst of revolutions and wars, the Swiss issued a more modern constitution, which gave the federal government design, largely inspired by the model. This constitution imposed a central authority, leaving the cantons the right to govern and resolve local issues. Besides the national assembly was divided into an upper house (Council of States of Switzerland, with two representatives per canton) and a lower house (National Council of Switzerland, with elected representatives from across the country). To make changes to the constitution required a referendum again.

It also introduced a unique system of weights and measures, and the Swiss franc in 1850 became the sole official currency. Article 11 of the constitution prohibited the sending of troops abroad, but in 1860 the Swiss army was forced to participate alongside Francis II of the Two Sicilies at the siege of Gaeta.

Opening in 1882 the St Gotthard rail tunnel, connecting the canton of Ticino in the south.

One of the most important clauses of the constitution was established which could be completely rewritten if the occasion demanded, so the constitution would evolve instead of being completely changed every year. [21] This feature of the constitution became very useful with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, when many proclaimed that it was time to change the constitution. A first draft was rejected by the population in 1872, but two years later he accepted the modifications. [19] was here when it introduced an optional referendum for the creation and amendment of laws at the federal level. Also established rules governing the military, trade and other legal issues. Finally, in 1891, the constitution was revised again and introduced an unusual system of direct democracy, which remains unique until today. [19]

Modern History

The beginning of tourism in the nineteenth century gave way to the construction of major infrastructure. The picture shows the train that connects the village of Zermatt (1891).

Switzerland was not invaded in any of the two world wars. During World War I, Switzerland gave asylum to Illych Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin) where he remained until 1917. In 1917, Swiss neutrality was seriously questioned by the scandal starring Robert Grimm and Arthur Hoffman, when they tried to create a truce between Russia and Germany. However, in 1920, Switzerland joined the League of Nations, which had its headquarters in Geneva, with the only condition that would be free of any military requirement.

During World War II, the German army made careful plans for the invasion, [22] but never invaded Switzerland. [19] The country was able to maintain their independence through a combination of military deterrents, concessions to Germany and good luck military operations which delayed the German invasion. There were also attempts by the Swiss Nazi party to annex the country to Germany, but failed. The Swiss press castigated the Third Reich, commonly insulted their leader. Switzerland was an important intelligence base for both sides during the conflict, often also acted as a facilitator in communications between the Allied and Axis forces. The International Red Cross based in Geneva, played an important role in this and other conflicts.

The bombing of Schaffhausen during the Second World War.

Trading in Switzerland was blocked by the Allies and the Axis countries. Economic cooperation and extension of credit to the Third Reich varied according to the risk of invasion and the availability of other trading partners. Concessions reached a peak after a railway line connecting the country with Vichy France was severed, leaving Switzerland completely surrounded by the Axis. During the war, Switzerland received more than 300,000 refugees, of whom 104,000 were foreign troops, which were accepted by the Rights and duties of neutral countries, document signed at the Hague Conferences of 1899 and 1907, 60,000 of refugees were civilians escaping persecution by the Nazis. Of these, about 27,000 were Jews. However, strict immigration and asylum policies and financial relations with Nazi Germany, generated controversy. [23] During the war, the Swiss Air Force aircraft fought on both sides. In May and June 1940, eleven o’clock shot down Luftwaffe planes that had invaded the Swiss airspace, forcing other intruding boats to retire after a change of policy in relations with Germany. Over a hundred Allied bombers and their crews were housed during the war. In 1944, the Allies mistakenly bombed the towns of Schaffhausen (killing forty people), Stein am Rhein, Vals and Rafz (with eighteen dead) and Basel and Zurich on 4 March 1945.

The arms of the canton of Jura was set aside in the dome of the Federal Palace. Canton was founded in 1978, when it seceded from the canton of Bern, and formally joined the Swiss Confederation in 1979.

In 1959, women received the right to vote in some cantons, making this federal law in 1971. [19] In 1963, Switzerland joined the Council of Europe. In the late 1970s, part of the canton of Bern was separated and created the new canton of Jura. In 1984, Elisabeth Kopp became the first woman in the Swiss Federal Council and was in 1999 when he reached the first woman president, Ruth Dreifuss. On April 18 of that year the Swiss population voted for a complete overhaul of the federal constitution. [19]

The National Exhibition of 2002.

In 2002, Switzerland became a full member of the UN, leaving the Vatican as the only state that has recognized full membership of the UN. Switzerland was one of the founders of EFTA, but not a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). A membership application was sent to the European Union in May 1992 but did not continue when access to the EEA was rejected by referendum in December that year. [19] Since then there have been multiple referenda and votes on the access of Switzerland to the European Union, but due to the different reactions you had people, the process of obtaining membership has stopped. However, Swiss law has gradually changed to conform to what the European Union and the Swiss government say, is a series of bilateral agreements. Switzerland and Liechtenstein have been completely surrounded by the EU since Austria’s entry in 1995. On 5 June 2005, 55% of Swiss voters agreed to join the Schengen Treaty, a result that has been listed by the European Union as a sign of support by Switzerland, a country that is traditionally perceived as independent or isolationist.