Bern: Federal City & Jura – Bern – Citizenship Test

Creation of Modern Switzerland:

Federal Constitution of 1848:

• After the Sonderbund War, Switzerland became a federal state
• It had to choose a capital/federal city
• Competition between Zurich, Lucerne, and Bern

Why Bern Was Chosen:

• Compromise Candidate: Not too powerful (like Zurich), but still significant
• Central Location: Geographical center of Switzerland
• Bilingual: German-French, representing linguistic diversity
• No Major Commercial Interests: Fewer conflicts of interest
• Available Land: Could build federal buildings
• The Federal Assembly voted for Bern on November 28, 1848

Important Note:

• Switzerland has no official "capital"
• Bern is the federal city (Bundesstadt)
• Seat of the federal government (Federal Council, Parliament)
• Some federal functions are distributed (Federal Court in Lausanne)
• This unique arrangement reflects Switzerland's decentralized nature

Construction of the Federal Palace:

• 1857-1902: The Federal Palace (Bundeshaus) was built
• Renaissance revival style with distinctive green copper dome
• Overlooks the Aare River
• Houses the Federal Assembly (both chambers)
• The Federal Council meets here
• Symbol of Swiss democracy

The Helvetic Republic Period:

French Invasion (1798):

• French Revolutionary armies invaded Switzerland
• The patrician government of Bern was overthrown
• The Bernese treasury was plundered by the French
• The Old Confederation was dissolved
• The Helvetic Republic (a French client state) was established
• Bern lost its subject territories

Mediation Act (1803):

• Napoleon's Mediation Act restored some Swiss autonomy
• However, Bern lost the majority of its former territory
• Vaud became an independent canton (French-speaking)
• Aargau became a separate canton
• Bern's political power was significantly reduced
• The great city-state of Bern was broken up

A New Beginning:

• Bern had to rebuild as a regular canton
• No longer ruled over subject territories
• The dream of Bernese territorial empire was over
• This period shaped Bern's later support for federalism

The Jura Question:

Background:

• The Jura Region: French-speaking, Catholic
• Added to Bern in 1815 as compensation for territorial losses
• Felt dominated by the German-speaking, Protestant majority in Bern
• Economic and cultural differences
• Growing separatist movement after World War II

The Path to Independence:

• Following decades of conflict and negotiations
• Series of referendums in the 1970s
• The "Jura Question" divided Swiss politics for years

Establishment of Canton Jura (1979):

• North Jura (French-speaking, Catholic) voted for secession from Bern
• South Jura (mixed) voted to remain with Bern
• Canton of Jura became the 26th canton in 1979
• Bern lost territory, but the long-standing conflict was resolved

Historical Significance:

• Demonstrated Switzerland's commitment to self-determination
• A peaceful, democratic solution to a separatist conflict
• First new canton created since 1848

Bernese Jura Today:

• French-speaking southern area of the Jura Mountains remained with Bern
• Bilingual district within the Canton of Bern
• Some ongoing debates about autonomy
• A unique reminder of the Jura separation