“Little else is required to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice.”
—Adam Smith1
The exhibit below shows the two most important one-pagers in the world.2 Both are about the free and independent pursuit of happiness. In that sense, happy birthday from the older to the younger. (Fun “fact”: George III, King of England, kept a diary. His entry for 4 July 1776: “Nothing of importance happened today.”)3
The Swiss Federal Charter of 1291 and the United States Declaration of Independence of 1776 are seminal documents that mark significant moments in the histories of Switzerland and the United States, respectively. Although they were created almost 500 years apart and in different geopolitical contexts, they share remarkable similarities in their purposes, principles, and the contexts that led to their creation. Both documents can be viewed as foundational texts that sought to establish a new order based on principles of self-governance, mutual defence, and resistance to external domination.
“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.”
—Abraham Lincoln4
The Swiss Federal Charter, also known as the Bundesbrief, was drafted in 1291 by representatives of the three forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden. This charter marked a formal alliance aimed at mutual defence and maintaining peace and justice in the face of external threats, particularly from the Habsburg dynasty. Similarly, the United States Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, was a response to British colonial rule, asserting the Thirteen Colonies' desire for self-governance and independence from British imperial control.
“Defence of the individual’s liberty against the encroachments of tyrannical governments is the essential theme of the history of Western civilization. The characteristic feature of the Occident is its peoples’ pursuit of liberty, a concern unknown to Orientals. All the marvelous achievements of Western civilization are fruits grown on the tree of liberty.”
—Ludwig von Mises5
In both instances, these documents emerged from the need to resist external oppression and assert autonomy. The Swiss cantons faced pressure and threats from neighbouring powers, while the American colonies experienced increasing taxation and political subjugation by the British Crown. Both documents, therefore, served as a means to unite disparate regions or colonies against a common external adversary.
A core similarity between the Swiss Federal Charter and the Declaration of Independence is their emphasis on self-governance. The Swiss Charter highlights the need for mutual support and self-administration among the cantons, stating that they would assist one another in maintaining peace and freedom. This agreement established a cooperative framework where local leaders pledged to work together, setting the foundation for Swiss federalism.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), the Corsican conqueror, in a speech to the Swiss Lower House in 1802:
“Citizens of Switzerland,
Your destiny is in your own hands. You must establish a government that suits your particular circumstances and ensures the happiness of your people. The genius of your country, the simplicity of your manners, and your unique situation require a government that allows the cantons to manage their own affairs while remaining united under a central authority…
The challenges you face require a strong and stable government, one that can protect your liberties and promote the welfare of all Swiss citizens. By adopting a federalistic system, you will create a government that reflects the true spirit of your nation and ensures lasting peace and prosperity for Switzerland." 6
Similarly, the Declaration of Independence is grounded in the principle of self-governance, emphasizing that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. It asserts that the colonies have the right to establish their own government, one that is by and for the people. The Declaration of Independence not only declared independence from Britain but also laid the philosophical groundwork for a democratic government.
Both on-pagers reflect a desire for an identity based on shared values and principles of governance. The Swiss cantons sought unity to preserve their freedoms and administer justice independently, while the American colonies aimed to form a new nation grounded in liberty, equality, and democratic governance.
“If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th President of the United States7
Another notable similarity is the focus on mutual defence. The Swiss Federal Charter explicitly states the cantons' commitment to assist one another against external threats and internal disorder. This pact was essential for their survival in a tumultuous medieval Europe, ensuring that an attack on one canton would be met with a collective response from all signatories.
“The Swiss have an interesting army. Five hundred years without a war. Pretty impressive. Also pretty lucky for them. Ever see that little Swiss Army knife they have to fight with?”
—Jerry Seinfeld (b. 1954), American comedian
The Swiss 14th-century equivalent to Scotland’s William Wallace was called Arnold Winkelried. According to legend, not history, at the Battle of Sempach on 9 July 1386, when the Confederates (the good guys)8 weren’t able to break through the Austrian lines, it is reputed that he had thrown himself onto the enemy spears, shouting “take care of my wife and ahhhhhh!”9 In one cartoon I came across, one guy says related to this period: “…back then, the Swiss were farsighted, had grandiose ideas and didn’t allow themselves to be pushed around!” to which the other guy says: “… how times have changed!” This is a reference, among other things, to many Swiss politicians thinking it a good idea to bow and buckle to the might of the European Union, which to many some ordinary Swiss is the Star Trek equivalent of The Borg.
“The Swiss have flourished mightily outside the European Union. They have enjoyed prosperity, stability and liberty, and one might be forgiven for thinking that no one would be foolish enough to want to upset that happy state of affairs. But the Europeans and the pro-European Swiss federal government do not see it that way.”
—Margaret Thatcher10
In the Declaration of Independence, while the primary focus is on political independence, there is an implicit understanding that the colonies must unite and support one another to defend against British military retaliation. The unity of the colonies was crucial for their success in the Revolutionary War, much like the unity of the Swiss cantons was essential for resisting Habsburg influence.
“‘All men are created equal’ says the American Declaration of Independence. ‘All men shall be kept equal’ say the British Socialist Party.”
—Winston Churchill11
Both one-pagers also embody a spirit of resistance to external domination. The Swiss Federal Charter was a response to the encroaching influence of the Habsburgs, who sought to extend their control over the forest cantons. By affirming their mutual defence pact, the cantons resisted the Habsburgs’ attempts to dominate them, asserting their right to self-determination.
“There is no more beautiful scenery or climate for summer travel than Switzerland presents. The people are industrious and honest, simple and frugal in their habits, and would be very poor with all this, if it were not from the travel through their country. I wish their surplus population would emigrate to the United States.”
—Ulysses S. Grant (1822-85), 18th President of the United States12
The Declaration of Independence famously lists grievances against King George III, accusing him of establishing an "absolute Tyranny" over the colonies. By declaring independence, the American colonies rejected British rule and asserted their right to self-governance and freedom from oppression. This act of defiance was a bold statement against colonial domination, similar to the Swiss resistance against the Habsburgs.
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
—Fake Thomas Jefferson quote13
The long-term impacts of these two one-pagers further illustrate their similarities. The Swiss Federal Charter laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the Swiss Confederation, a stable and enduring political entity known for its neutrality and federal structure. Similarly, the Declaration of Independence set the stage for the formation of the United States of America, a nation built on democratic principles and a federal system of government.
Both one-pagers symbolize the enduring values of independence, unity, and self-governance. They are celebrated as foundational texts that address immediate political needs and articulate enduring principles that continue to inspire.
“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense.”
—Thomas Jefferson14
Gone are the times when meaningful one-pagers went a long way:
The quote is from Dugald Stewart (1753-1828), a Scottish philosopher and mathematician, who had in his possession some notes of lectures Adam Smith gave in 1755, some 21 years before the appearance of the Wealth of Nations (1776). Full quote: “Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism, but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice; all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things. All governments which thwart this natural course, which force things into another channel, or which endeavour to arrest the progress of society at a particular point, are unnatural, and to support themselves are obliged to be oppressive and tyrannical.”
Switzerland’s Federal Charter is kept in a museum, a twenty-minute drive from where I live in central Switzerland. My ranking of important freedom-toting one-pagers, therefore, needs to be taken with a pinch of applied history salt. Britain’s Magna Carta from 1215 was pretty important, too.
The quote is disputed. According to experts like Arnold Hunt, curator of historical manuscripts at the British Library, King George III never kept a diary. So, the idea of him writing down such a quote loses its basis. Some believe the quote might be a variation of a story about King Louis XVI of France. Allegedly, on the day the French Revolution began, Louis XVI wrote "rien du tout" ("nothing at all") in his diary, referring to an uneventful hunting trip.
Abraham Lincoln, Speech, 16 October 1854. Lincoln expressed this sentiment in a speech addressing the issue of slavery. This quote underscores Lincoln's belief in the principles of democracy and individual rights.
Von Mises, Ludwig (1953) “The Theory of Money and Credit,” New Haven: Yale University Press, p. 414.
This is a part of a paraphrased version as the original speech text is not readily available in full. However, it captures the essence of Napoleon's message to the Swiss Lower House in 1802, advocating for a federalist approach to governance that respects the autonomy of individual cantons within a unified Swiss state.
Calvin Coolidge, The Inspiration of the Declaration of Independence, speech, Philadelphia, PA, 5 July 1926. The speech was given to celebrate the one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The proper German word for the Swiss is “Eidgenossen”, which is often translated into English as “Confederates”. Because French-speakers couldn’t pronounce “Eidgenossen,” it became “Eyguenots” which later became “Huguenot” used later to refer to all French Calvinists. The official name of Switzerland is “Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft.” “Eid” in German means oath and is a reference to 1291, when the Swiss, simplifying a bit, decided to rule themselves.
I didn’t make this up entirely. Arnold Winkelried is a historical fact. His involvement, action, and battle cries at the Battle of Sempach are legend only. The historical fact is that the Confederates (men from Lucerne and the surrounding cantons, then called “forest cantons” (because there was not much else there then)) gave the knights of the Habsburg empire a real beating, killing 1,800, including their leader, Duke Leopold III of Austria. The Habsburg rearmed and had another go at the Battle of Näfels on 9 April 1388. According to legend, and perhaps also according to history, the enemy outnumbered the Swiss by a factor of ten and lost. The Austrians, simplifying a bit, called it a day then, and the Swiss lived in freedom happily ever after. The funny thing is that the three battles of Morgarten (1315), Sempach and Näfels gave the Swiss a brutish and battlefield-savvy image because all battles they won as the under-armed underdog against the then state-of-the-art military force. This tough, hard-hitting mountain-people image became quite important in later centuries when wealth was created by supplying armies of Swiss mercenaries internationally, a wealth that is still visible in grandiose architecture in places close to where I live in central Switzerland. Swiss mercenaries were so popular for around 300-350 years that the Swiss fought the Swiss on the battlefield, as both parties recruited from there.
Margaret Thatcher, Statecraft—Strategies for a changing world (New York: Harper Collins, 2002), 346.
1951 General Election campaign.
Letter to Daniel Ammen (26 August 1877), Bristol Hotel, Burlington Gardens, London, United Kingdom. As quoted in The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: November 1, 1876-September 30, 1878, by U.S. Grant, pp. 251-252.
This quotation first appeared in Dreams Come Due: Government and Economics as if Freedom Mattered (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1986), p. 312, written under the pseudonym of John Galt. It is attributed to Jefferson, but it is not found anywhere in his works. It bears a very vague resemblance to Jefferson's comment in a prospectus for his translation of Destutt de Tracy's Treatise on Political Economy: "To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, — the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry, & the fruits acquired by it." From wikiquote.org and Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia, 4 January 2017.
Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, 1785.