The longing for Swiss conditions was widespread among the people of Vorarlberg after the collapse of the monarchy. Right at their doorstep, they could observe pronounced forms of direct democracy and considerable prosperity among the Swiss. On March 14, 1919, the state assembly adopted a constitution that would have seamlessly integrated Vorarlberg into the Swiss system. This marked the beginning of a movement for Anschluss (annexation) to Switzerland. For politicians, it became a balancing act between high treason and the exercise of the claimed right to self-determination. The Federal Council in Bern would have liked to see Vorarlberg as the 23rd canton, and the Vorarlberg state constitution of 1919 was intended to serve as a ticket into the Confederation. The canton of Vorarlberg was within reach.