Restoration and Regeneration in Switzerland
The Restauration is the period of Swiss history lasting from 1814 to 1847. The term refers to the restoration of the Ancien Régime of Early Modern times, reverting the changes imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte with the Helvetic Republic from 1798 and the partial revertion to the old system with the Act of Mediation of 1803.
When Napoleon's fall appeared inadvertible, the Act of Mediation was suspended in late December of 1813, and long winded discussions about future constitutions were initiated in all cantons of Switzerland. Cantonal constitutions were worked out independently from 1814, in general restoring the late feudal conditions of the 17th and 18th century.
This meant that the Patriciate and the Free cities gained much of their former power, to the disadvantage of the rural population, resulting in rebellions and violent conflicts such as the Züriputsch of 1839.
In this political conflict, the right-wing Conservative Party representing the Patriciate was pitted against the "free thinking" left-wing "Radical Party", the predecessor of the contemporary Free Democratic Party of Switzerland. The Radicals rose to power during the 1830s, and managed to impose restrictions against the Catholic Church in the Aargau in 1841. Lucerne in retaliation re-admitted the Jesuits, armed Radicals invaded the canton, resulting in a general revolt.
The Catholic Sonderbund was created in 1845, in violation of inter-cantonal treaties, and the confederate army was raised, resulting in the Sonderbundskrieg of November 1847, which thanks to the thoughtful campaign by General Guillaume-Henri Dufour resulted in fewer than a hundred casualties on both sides.
After the hostilities ceased, the Catholic side having the disadvantage, Modern Switzerland was formed by the first Federal Constitution.