Description: The study of federalism as a system of government has, in recent times, become a favorite subject for constitutional writers. The Swiss Confederation is as near as possible a counterpart in miniature of the United States. It is, in fact, the misfortune of Swiss history, that although very little is popularly known about it, that little is almost invariably incorrect. The territory now known as Switzerland had no separate political existence prior to the end of the thirteenth century. The Swiss Confederation made its entry upon the historic stage in 1291. It reached its present proportion of twenty-two Cantons in 1815. It is, indeed, surprising to notice how the country, with whose name we are accustomed to associate some of our noblest conceptions of liberty, has run up the gamut of self-government, striking all the intervening notes between complete subjugation and unquestioned independence. The history of the Swiss Confederation presents for our inspection six centuries of growth from the very rudiments of liberty to its full flower in the present day.

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