Which invention fundamentally changed Swiss industry in the 18th century?

The steam engine could drive machines in factories. James Watt improved it in England in the 18th century. It made industrialisation possible, also in Switzerland.

Exam answer: «die Dampfmaschine» (the steam engine). Today: the study brochures say that industrialisation began in the 19th century with the steam engine. At first, Swiss factories mostly ran on water power; steam engines were only built in Switzerland from 1836 (HLS, «Dampfmaschine»).

Common mistakes

A: the petrol engine (Otto engine)

Nikolaus Otto only built the Otto engine in 1876, so in the 19th century. At first it ran on gas, only later on petrol.

C: the electric motor

Electric motors only became important in factories in the late 19th century.

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.

History of Switzerland
Federal state and industrialisation

Sources

• stadt-zuerich.ch
• zh.ch
• hls-dhs-dss.ch

Last checked: September 2026

Question 237 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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