Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

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DISCOVER A Brief History

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The Foundation of Modern Switzerland
Napoleon invaded Switzerland in 1798 and replaced the WOMEN’S
cantons of the Confederation with the short-lived, unpopular SUFFRAGE
Helvetic Republic. The Swiss Confederation was restored in Swiss women were
1803, but French jurisdiction lasted until Napoleon’s defeat only granted the right
by a British-led coalition of European armies at Waterloo in to vote in federal elec­
1815. In the wake of civil war, a new constitution, drawn up tions in 1971; in 1991
in 1848 and revised in 1874, established today’s system of Appenzell Innerrhoden
direct democracy, with the cantons collectively ruled by a became the last canton
federal assembly in Bern. With political stability, the country to give women a vote
flourished. New commercial banks were established, and on local issues. Since
the construction of the railway network and new roads then, women have
opened up alpine areas to burgeoning tourism; industries made great strides in
from watchmaking to chocolate manufacture thrived. the political arena. In
2010, the country was
Neutrality through Two World Wars one of just five world­
During both the World Wars, Switzerland maintained a state wide to have more
of armed neutrality. As a result, it was sought after by both women than men in
the Allied and Axis countries as a location for commerce (thus the cabinet that year.
boosting the growth of the Swiss banking industry), espionage

Timeline of events
1874 1912 1914–18
A revision of the Carl Jung publishes Switzerland
Swiss constitu- his ground-breaking organizes Red
tion allows direct book, Psychology of Cross units but
democracy by the Unconscious. remains neutral
referendum. during World War I;
the 1919 Treaty
of Versailles
1863 reaffirms Swiss
neutrality.
Henri Dunant establishes the
Red Cross; he receives the first
Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
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