James Newhauser Jr., age 15, of Prescott, Ariz., for his question:
WHEN DID LIECHTENSTEIN BECOME A COUNTRY?
Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in the world. The area of the country is less than that of Washington, D.C. It became an independent country in 1806.
Charlemagne, king of the Franks, controlled the area that is now Liechtenstein in the late A.D. 700s. The area was divided into Vaduz and Schellenberg after his death. A prince from Vienna named Johann Adam Liechtenstein bought Schellenberg in 1699 and Vaduz in 1712. His descendants still rule Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein became part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. But Napoleon abolished this empire and then Liechtenstein gained independence in 1806.
In 1815, Liechtenstein joined the German Confederation, a league of German rulers, but kept its independence. This confederation was dissolved in 1866 at the end of the Seven Weeks' War. This was the last war in which Liechtenstein fought.
The country has remained neutral since then, and has had no army since 1868.
In 1852, Liechtenstein agreed to an economic union with Austria Hungary. Liechtenstein ended its union with Austria after World War I. It signed a similar agreement with Switzerland in 1924.
Liechtenstein lies between Switzerland and Austria. The people speak German in a Swiss dialect and their customs are much like those of the Swiss. The country uses Swiss money and Switzerland operates its postal, telegraph and telephone system. Switzerland also represents Liechtenstein in diplomatic and trade relations.
The country's official name is the Principality of Liechtenstein. The nation is ruled by a prince but a prime minister actually directs the government. The throne usually passes to the prince's eldest son.
Tiny Liechtenstein lies in a valley in the Alps. The Rhine River flows along the western border.
One of the world's finest private art collections is owned by the prince. It is housed in the capital, Vaduz, and it includes works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Sandro Botticelli, Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt.
One of the ways the government makes money is by selling postage stamps. Collectors say that Liechtenstein's postage stamps are among the most beautiful in the world. Many of the stamps are reproductions of paintings in the prince's famous art collection.
Most of the people live in small villages. Until the 1930s, most were farmers and worked the fields for a living. Now, however, over half of them work in small factories or as craftsmen.
Small factories in the country produce leather goods and pottery, cotton textiles, heating appliances, pharmaceutical products and precision instruments.
In Liechtenstein only men can vote. They elect the 15 members of the parliament, which is called the Land tag. Members serve four years terms. The Landtag passes laws, prepares the national budget and sets tax rates. Laws must be approved by the prince.
The prince appoints the prime minister and the Landtag appoints two government counselors to help the prime minister.