Switzerland
1945-1949 		History of Switzerland since 1969






Switzerland after World War II, 1949-1968

In the early 1950es, Switzerland pursued a protectionist policy regarding agricultural products, to protect the country's farmers. As a result, domestic prices for food were higher than elsewhere in Europe, while Swiss food exports were subsidized. In the 1950es, with the economies of her neighbouring countries growing fast, Swiss trade expanded strongly. Switzerland attracted many immigrants in search for employment, mainly from countries such as Italy, Yugoslavia etc.
In 1950, the practise of auctioning off orphans and children of divorced parents (Verdingkinder) to persons who demanded the lowest pay for room and board was terminated.
In 1954 Switzerland hosted the Soccer World Cup. In the final game, in Bern's Wankdorf Stadium, Germany defeated Hungary 3-2.
In 1959, the Swiss political parties agreed on the "Magic Formula". The composition of the Federal Council (Bundesrat) was to be 2 representatives each of the Free Democrats (FDP), Christian Democrats (CVP), Social Democrats (SP) and one of the Swiss People's Party (SVP). Vaud, Neuchatel (1959) and Geneve (1960) were the first Swiss cantons to introduce women's suffrage. Switzerland was a founder-member of EFTA (1959).
In 1962, the Swiss population, in a plebiscite, approved a plan to build a Swiss nuclear bomb; it was never implemented.
In 1963, Switzerland joined the Council of Europe. In 1967, work on drafting a revised constitution began. In 1967, the ultraright campaigned for restrictions against the influx of foreign workers. Immigration of persons in search of labour declined.





EXTERNAL
FILES 		Timeline Swiss History, from Geschichte Schweiz
Information about the History of Switzerland, from about ch
Timeline Switzerland, from BBC News
Article Geschichte der Schweiz, from Wikipedia, in German
Article Modern History of Switzerland, from Wikipedia
Geschichte, from Swissworld, in German
DOCUMENTS Historical Population Statistics : Switzerland, from Population Statistics, at Univ. Utrecht
List of Presidents etc., from World Statesmen by Ben Cahoon
REFERENCE Article : Switzerland, in : Britannica Book of the Year 1950 p.654, 1951 pp.659-660, 1952 pp.662-663, 1953 pp.671-672, 1954 pp.674-675, 1955 pp.723-724, 1956 p.662, 1957 p.726, 1958 pp.665-666, 1959 pp.665-666, 1960 pp.665-666, 1961 pp.665-666, 1962 pp.659-660, 1963 p.775, 1964 pp.796-797, 1965 pp.788-789, 1966 pp.722-723, 1967 pp.714-715, 1968 pp.724-725, 1969 pp.708-710 [G]
Article : Switzerland, in : Americana Annual 1957 pp.761-762, 1961 pp.740-741, 1962 pp.745-746, 1963 p.662, 1964 pp.644-645, 1965 pp.672-673, 1967 p.666, 1968 pp.653-654, 1969 p.665 [G]
Article : Switzerland, in : Funk & Wagnall's New Standard Encyclopedia Year Book 1952 pp.407-408, 1961 p.322 [G]



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on April 7th 2006, last revised on March 27th 2007

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