Ustertag
Encyclopedia
The Ustertag occurred on 22 November 1830, when 10,000 men of the Canton of Zurich
gathered on Zimiker Hill and demanded a new constitution. Their primary concern was parity between the urban and rural areas. The Ustertag is described as a "revolution" due to its impact, its focus, and its speed of events, which caused great change in the Canton of Zurich.
) where the meeting occurred, and Tagung
or political assembly.
the city of Zurich acquired a number of rural areas. The rural population were poor and uneducated while politically and economically under the control of the city. During the French controlled Helvetic Republic
in 1798 the ideas of freedom and equality spread. The medieval idea of different laws for city citizens and countryside peasants was overthrown. However, in 1803 the Helvetic Republic collapsed and was replaced by the Act of Mediation
which struck a compromise between the Ancien Regime
and a Republic. In the following years, even the limited freedoms under the Act were undermined and following Napoleon's defeat in 1813 the Act was overturned. In the Restoration, which started in 1814, the new constitution reduced the representation of rural areas in the cantonal councils.
of 1830, revolutionary movements sprang up across Switzerland. The first assembly was held near Weinfelden
in Thurgau
in October and November 1830. Followed in November by meetings in Wohlenschwil
, Aargau
then Sursee
, Lucerne
. In November 1830, Dr. Ludwig Snellhalf wrote several pamphlets including the Memorial von Küsnacht (The Memorial of Küsnacht) which argued that the canton was known for its liberalism and the canton should embrace the changes that were sweeping Europe. A short time later, about a hundred men gathered in Stäfa
, near Zurich, and decided to hold a meeting in Uster, the most central location in the canton of Zurich with a large church. However, when 10,000 - 12,000 men attended, the church could not hold the crowd and the Tagung
or assembly adjourned to the nearby Zimiker Hill.
While there were a number of different assemblies that met throughout Switzerland in 1830-31, each assembly called for two main changes in the new cantonal constitutions. First, they called for peacefully adjusting the constitutions by adjusting the way seats in local legislature
s and the Tagsatzung
were allocated. In particular they objected to what they saw as the over-representation of the cantonal capital in the government. Secondly, they sought a way to amend the constitution. Very few cantons even had a way to amend or modify the constitutions, and none of them allowed citizen's initiative
s to be added.
Following a day of speeches, in the evening they went peaceably back to their homes, without rioting or violence.
The Ustertag of 1830 and other assemblies of 1830-31 had a significant impact on the former Swiss Confederation. The political reforms that came after these assemblies ended the period known as the Restoration and led to the Regeneration period which led to the Constitution
of 1848 and the creation of the Swiss federal state
. The Ustertag day is still celebrated by keynote speeches in the Swiss Reformed Church
.
The assemblies of 1830-31 also led to the introduction of a new word into the German language
. These assemblies were collectively known in Swiss German
as Putsch, which later made its way into standard German as a political term, popularized by Gottfried Keller
. The word gained further use during the First World War, as the equivalent of the English "push," or "going over the top," from one's trenches into battle. The derived verb aufputschen remains common in Standard German
for "to incite", "to excite", in political or in doping contexts.
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
gathered on Zimiker Hill and demanded a new constitution. Their primary concern was parity between the urban and rural areas. The Ustertag is described as a "revolution" due to its impact, its focus, and its speed of events, which caused great change in the Canton of Zurich.
The name
Ustertag refers to the name of the town (UsterUster
Uster is a city and capital of the district Uster in the Swiss Canton of Zürich.It is the third largest city in the Canton of Zürich, with over 30,000 inhabitants, and is one of the twenty largest cities in Switzerland...
) where the meeting occurred, and Tagung
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
or political assembly.
Background
In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the city of Zurich acquired a number of rural areas. The rural population were poor and uneducated while politically and economically under the control of the city. During the French controlled Helvetic Republic
Helvetic Republic
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud...
in 1798 the ideas of freedom and equality spread. The medieval idea of different laws for city citizens and countryside peasants was overthrown. However, in 1803 the Helvetic Republic collapsed and was replaced by the Act of Mediation
Act of Mediation
The Act of Mediation was issued by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 February 1803 establishing the Swiss Confederation. The act also abolished the previous Helvetic Republic, which had existed since the invasion of Switzerland by French troops in 1798. After the withdrawal of French troops in July 1802,...
which struck a compromise between the Ancien Regime
Early Modern Switzerland
The early modern history of the Old Swiss Confederacy , lasting from formal independence in 1648 to the French invasion of 1798 came to be referred as Ancien Régime retrospectively, in post-Napoleonic Switzerland.The early modern period was characterized by an increasingly...
and a Republic. In the following years, even the limited freedoms under the Act were undermined and following Napoleon's defeat in 1813 the Act was overturned. In the Restoration, which started in 1814, the new constitution reduced the representation of rural areas in the cantonal councils.
Ustertag
Following the French July RevolutionJuly Revolution
The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution or in French, saw the overthrow of King Charles X of France, the French Bourbon monarch, and the ascent of his cousin Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, who himself, after 18 precarious years on the throne, would in turn be overthrown...
of 1830, revolutionary movements sprang up across Switzerland. The first assembly was held near Weinfelden
Weinfelden
Weinfelden is a municipality in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland. It is the capital of the district of the same name.Weinfelden is an old town, which was known during Roman times as Quivelda .-History:...
in Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
in October and November 1830. Followed in November by meetings in Wohlenschwil
Wohlenschwil
Wohlenschwil is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:On June 3, 1653 Wohlenschwil was the site of the Battle of Wohlenschwil, which ended the Swiss peasant war of 1653...
, Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
then Sursee
Sursee
Sursee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Sursee is located at the northern end of Lake Sempach, not far from where the Sure river enters the lake , hence the name "Sursee"....
, Lucerne
Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
. In November 1830, Dr. Ludwig Snellhalf wrote several pamphlets including the Memorial von Küsnacht (The Memorial of Küsnacht) which argued that the canton was known for its liberalism and the canton should embrace the changes that were sweeping Europe. A short time later, about a hundred men gathered in Stäfa
Stäfa
Stäfa is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Stäfa has an area of . Of this area, 46.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 34% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
, near Zurich, and decided to hold a meeting in Uster, the most central location in the canton of Zurich with a large church. However, when 10,000 - 12,000 men attended, the church could not hold the crowd and the Tagung
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
or assembly adjourned to the nearby Zimiker Hill.
While there were a number of different assemblies that met throughout Switzerland in 1830-31, each assembly called for two main changes in the new cantonal constitutions. First, they called for peacefully adjusting the constitutions by adjusting the way seats in local legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
s and the Tagsatzung
Tagsatzung
The Swiss Tagsatzung was the legislative and executive council of the Swiss confederacy from the beginnings until the formation of the Swiss federal state in 1848. It was a meeting of delegates of the individual cantons...
were allocated. In particular they objected to what they saw as the over-representation of the cantonal capital in the government. Secondly, they sought a way to amend the constitution. Very few cantons even had a way to amend or modify the constitutions, and none of them allowed citizen's initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
s to be added.
Following a day of speeches, in the evening they went peaceably back to their homes, without rioting or violence.
Effects of the Ustertag
Once on 6 December, a new Cantonal Council was elected with two-thirds of the representatives coming from the rural areas. By March 1831 a new constitution was in force that addressed most of the points from the Ustertag.The Ustertag of 1830 and other assemblies of 1830-31 had a significant impact on the former Swiss Confederation. The political reforms that came after these assemblies ended the period known as the Restoration and led to the Regeneration period which led to the Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of 1848 and the creation of the Swiss federal state
Switzerland as a federal state
The rise of Switzerland as a federal state began on September 12, 1848, with the creation of a federal constitution, which was created in response to a 27-day civil war in Switzerland, the Sonderbundskrieg...
. The Ustertag day is still celebrated by keynote speeches in the Swiss Reformed Church
Swiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
.
The assemblies of 1830-31 also led to the introduction of a new word into the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. These assemblies were collectively known in Swiss German
Swiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
as Putsch, which later made its way into standard German as a political term, popularized by Gottfried Keller
Gottfried Keller
Gottfried Keller , a Swiss writer of German-language literature, was best known for his novel Green Henry .- Life and work :...
. The word gained further use during the First World War, as the equivalent of the English "push," or "going over the top," from one's trenches into battle. The derived verb aufputschen remains common in Standard German
Standard German
Standard German is the standard variety of the German language used as a written language, in formal contexts, and for communication between different dialect areas...
for "to incite", "to excite", in political or in doping contexts.
Sources
- Der Ustertag im Spiegel seiner Zeit. Festschrift zur 150. Wiederkehr des 22. Novembers 1830. Uster, 1980.