The tide turned against Napoleon after the failure of his 1812 Russian campaign, and the Allies - led by Austria - worked to undermine French influence in Switzerland.

The pre-revolutionary authorities took over again in Switzerland at the end of 1813, and the old cantonal constitutions with all their social and political inequalities were restored. Nevertheless, the new cantons were not abolished despite opposition to them from some of their former overlords.

Under a new Federal Pact signed in August 1815 the cantons recovered their sovereignty in all matters except foreign affairs.

Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva joined the Swiss confederation in 1815. The territory of the bishopric of Basel - based in the Jura - was taken away from France and given mainly to Bern. This was the last significant change to Switzerland's borders up to the present time.