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| 1870 |
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| The Swiss Socialist Party was founded in Zürich as a result of the collapse of the Second International. The socialist platform demanded increased government centralization and a sliding scale of taxation as well as more legislation to be carried out by the people. The Socialist Party was reorganized in 1907, but it never adopted revolutionary programs and remained concerned with Swiss rather than international working-class problems. | 1 |
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| 1873 |
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| Efforts to proclaim papal infallibility (See 1869, Dec. 8–1870, Oct. 20) in Switzerland met with government resistance. In Berne, the state called on the clergy to break off relations with the Catholic bishop, and, when they refused, the state fined and imprisoned them—demanding the right to examine and appoint all Catholic clergy. In Geneva, a law eliminated religious associational activities within the schools and established the popular election of the clergy. However, these policies led only to growing popular support for the priests. | 2 |
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| 1874, April 19 |
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| A new constitution strengthened the federal government by providing for a better-organized federal militia and introduced a system of referendum and initiative, which gave the Swiss people the right to vote on legislation. It also established civil marriage, provided compulsory free education for both girls and boys with freedom of religion, and allowed individuals to stipulate whether they supported the Catholic or Protestant church or chose to support neither. | 3 |
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| Oct |
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| International Postal Congress met at Berne; Switzerland became headquarters for many international conferences and organizations. | 4 |
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