Switzerland Special Union War (b/w photo)

The last meeting of the unified Swiss constitution on October 29, 1847, was attended by the later Federal Councillors Mayor Dr. J. Furrer (Zurich), President Ulrich Ochsenbein (Berne), Councillor Staempfli (Berne), Councillor Frey-Herose (Aargau) Councillor of State Druey (Vaud) and President of the Supreme Court Dr. Kern (Thurgau). The envoys of the Special Federal Cantons left the assembly. The Sonderbund, a separate alliance of the cantons of Lucerne, Zug, Wallis, Fribourg and the original cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, was formed as a protective association to safeguard their territorial rights after a dispute over the dissolution of a monastery in Aargau and the appointment of the Jesuits to Lucerne had divided Switzerland Politically and denominationally. After a resolution to dissolve the Sonderbund by the united Tagsatzung had shown no effect and all attempts at mediation had failed, the Tagsatzung decided to dissolve the Sonderbund by force on 4 November 1847. Only 25 days later, on 29 November 1847, the surrender of the Valais marked the end of the Sonderbund War. (drawing and woodcut by E. Kretzschmar)