1833 Bâle is divided into a rural (Baselland) and an urban (Baselstadt) half-canton because of the desire of the rural population for proportional representation in the Diet. 1834 Political refugees to Switzerland increase to such an extent that measures are taken by the diet to prevent abuse of the privilege of asylum. 1835 Religious tumults in Aargau. 1836 Difficulties with France over tariff regulations. Religious tumults in the Bernese Jura. 1838 The Society of the Grütli is founded at Geneva. 1839 Reaction in Zurich against radicals and freethinkers. (Strauss’ _Life of Jesus_). 1840 Clericals revolt against the radicals in Aargau. 1841 They are put down. Eight monasteries in Aargau are suppressed. The quarrel provokes disputes in the diet. 1843 The diet effects a compromise in the religious quarrel in Aargau by which four instead of eight of the monasteries are suppressed. The seven Catholic cantons, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Lucerne, Zug, Fribourg, and Valais hereupon form a separate league, the Sonderbund. 1844 The Sonderbund declares for the reopening of all the monasteries in Aargau. The clericals in Lucerne, the Vorort, give high posts to Jesuits. Parties of free-lances attempt to capture the city. 1845 The attack on Lucerne is renewed but is unsuccessful. The radicals gain control in Zurich. 1846 The radicals become the majority in Bern and Geneva. 1847 The radicals get a majority in St. Gall. The diet in which the radicals are now in the majority declares the Sonderbund contrary to the Federal Pact. The diet resolves to revise the pact and asks the cantons to expel the Jesuits. The attempt to enforce the decree leads to the Sonderbund War. This is quickly ended by the defeat of the rebellious Catholic cantons at Gislikon, largely because of the good generalship of Dufour. SWITZERLAND AS A FEDERAL STATE 1848 A new constitution is accepted by the majority of the cantons. Switzerland becomes a federal state (_Bundesstaat_). A central government is organised consisting of a council of states (_Ständerath_), a national council (_National Rath_) and a federal council or executive (_Bundesrath_). German, French, and Italian are recognised as national languages. Bern is chosen the national capital. 1855 The federal polytechnic school is opened at Zurich. Improvements in the educational system are introduced. 1856 A royalist conspiracy in Neuchâtel is put down and causes a dispute between Switzerland and the king of Prussia, the overlord of Neuchâtel. 1857 Neuchâtel is definitely ceded to Switzerland. 1859 Switzerland posts troops on the Italian frontier to preserve neutrality in the Italian War and puts an end to foreign enlistments.