Swiss Passport

Why did many Swiss people emigrate in the 19th century?

Weshalb wanderten viele Schweizerinnen und Schweizer im 19. Jahrhundert aus?

Correct answer: C

  1. A Because they were politically persecuted in Switzerland.Weil sie in der Schweiz politisch verfolgt wurden.
  2. B Because they wanted to gain professional experience.Weil sie Berufserfahrung sammeln wollten.
  3. C Because hunger, poverty and unemployment prevailed.Weil Hunger, Armut und Arbeitslosigkeit herrschte.
  4. D Because they were looking for adventure.Weil sie Lust auf Abenteuer hatten.

Why

Crop failures, famines and a lack of work made many people poor. They looked for a better life in America.

Common mistakes

A: Because they were politically persecuted in Switzerland.
There were few political refugees; most emigrants left because of economic hardship.
D: Because they were looking for adventure.
For some it was an adventure, but the main reason for the big waves of emigration was poverty.

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

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