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| Happy Birthday!! |
The Swiss nation celebrates its birthday tomorrow. The date, 1st August refers to an agreement called the Federal Charter, between the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (now split into Nid- and Obwaldens) in 1291. The Switzerland of today however dates from the formation of the Swiss Federation in 1848 (a busy year!). Prior to this year, which marks the founding of the modern state, the cantons' sovereignty was recognised in the Treaty of Westphalia, which sounds important and if you had to pick a year out the air, you'd probably guess was signed in 1648, and you'd be right!
