Posted
on June 23, 2015
Instead
of having states, like the U.S. and Mexico, or provinces like Canada
or Spain, Switzerland has cantons. It has 26, in fact!
 |
| Jura Mountains |
The
most recent canton is Jura. It became a canton on this date in 1979.
And it's not as if Switzerland suddenly gained more land; Jura used
to be a part of the canton of Bern.
Switzerland
is a fairly small nation – smaller than the rather small state of
West Virginia, in the U.S. – but it is quite diverse. It has four
official languages – French, German, Italian, and Romansh. And
when, in the early 1800s, the Jura region became a part of the canton
of Bern, some people were unhappy about it. The Jura was
French-speaking and by and large practiced Catholicism, and the
majority of people in Bern spoke German and practiced Protestant
Christianity.
After World War II, a separatist movement began. Many young people in Jura agitated to be allowed to secede from Bern. There was even (regrettably) some violence over the issue. Finally, in 1978, there was a vote of the Swiss people, and the people chose to split.
After World War II, a separatist movement began. Many young people in Jura agitated to be allowed to secede from Bern. There was even (regrettably) some violence over the issue. Finally, in 1978, there was a vote of the Swiss people, and the people chose to split.
Some
of the people in the southern part of what has been traditionally
considered Jura – although French-speakers – chose to stay in the
canton Bern. This area is called Bernese Jura.
So now there are two meanings of the name “Jura”: the canton Jura, and the traditional region of Jura, which includes the canton Jura plus Bernese Jura.
So now there are two meanings of the name “Jura”: the canton Jura, and the traditional region of Jura, which includes the canton Jura plus Bernese Jura.
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