The Swiss Confederation In the Eyes of America's Founders

Authors

Stephen P. Halbrook

Keywords

Switzerland, Swiss history, European history

Abstract

The Swiss experience had a positive influence on the American Revolution, figured in the debates on adoption of the United States Constitution, and was a matter of commentary in the political struggles of the early Republic. The American model influenced the Swiss Constitution of 1848,t but before that the Swiss Confederation-then 500 years oldhelped inspire the birth of the American Republic, particularly regarding the interrelated concepts of resistance to oppression, independence from foreign states, neutrality, a people's militia, and federalism.

Recommended Citation

Halbrook, Stephen P. (2012) "The Swiss Confederation In the Eyes of America's Founders," Swiss American Historical Society Review: Vol. 48: No. 3, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/sahs_review/vol48/iss3/4