Swiss Passport

In Switzerland, industrialisation began in the early 19th century. What was most important in this process?

In der Schweiz begann die Industrialisierung im frühen 19. Jahrhundert. Was war dabei am wichtigsten?

Correct answer: A

  1. A Textile industryTextilindustrie
  2. B Steel industryStahlindustrie
  3. C Coal miningKohlenförderung
  4. D Car industryAutoindustrie

Why

In Switzerland, industrialisation began with the spinning and weaving of cotton. In 1802, the first large mechanical spinning mill opened near Winterthur.

Common mistakes

B: Steel industry
Switzerland has hardly any iron ore; the steel industry was never the core of Swiss industry.
C: Coal mining
There is almost no coal in Switzerland; it had to be imported.

Topic

From agrarian state to industrial state

Around 1800, most people in Switzerland lived from agriculture. In the 19th century, Switzerland changed from an agrarian state into an industrial state. Industrialisation means: goods are made with machines in factories instead of by hand. The basis was an invention from England: the steam engine. In the 18th century, James Watt improved it so that it could drive machines in factories. This started industrialisation in Europe in the 19th century.

Timeline of Swiss history
  1. 58 BCHelvetii and Romans
  2. 1291The Rütli and William Tell
  3. 1515Marignano
  4. 1523The Reformation
  5. 1798The French and Napoleon
  6. 1815Neutrality
  7. 1848Sonderbund War and the federal state
  8. 19th c.From agrarian state to industrial state
  9. 1918National general strike
  10. 1939–1945Second World War
  11. 1948Prosperity and AHV
  12. 1970Immigration and the Schwarzenbach initiative
  13. 1971Women's suffrage and equal rights
  14. 1979The youngest canton: Jura

History of Switzerland
Federal state and industrialisation

Sources

Last checked: September 2026

Question 221 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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