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Wisconsin
is the 16th largest state in the United States. It shares
borders with two of the Great Lakes (fresh water lakes)
- Lake Superior to the north and Lake Michigan to the
east. In addition, there are more than 8000 inland lakes.
Wisconsin's nickname is the Badger State. But the name
does not refer to the animals that live there but rather
to the lead miners who in the 1820s burrowed, like badgers,
into the hillsides of southwestern Wisconsin. (source:
Encarta, 1996) |
Here
are some fun facts, key words and people related to the
history of Wisconsin:
c 7000 B.C. - A.D. 1600
- the region that is now Wisconsin is inhabited by a succession
of Mississippi Valley Native American cultures.
1600s
- Tribal warfare in the East leads to the migration of many
Native American groups to Wisconsin. Among these are the
Sac, or Sauk, the Fox, and the Potawatomi. The already established
Menominee and Winnebago were probably descended from the
earlier local cultures. (Encarta, 1996)
1634
- French explorer Jean Nicolet, seeking a northwest passage,
lands at Green Bay thinking he has found a water route to
China.
1673
- Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette travel through
Wisconsin exploring its waterways. They become the first
white people to report seeing the upper Mississippi River.
1763-1783
- British defeat French in the French and Indian War; Wisconsin
becomes part of British Territory under the Treaty of Paris.
1783
- By the Second Treaty of Paris, which ends the American
Revolutionary War, British Territory east of the Mississippi
is ceded to the United States.
1787
- Wisconsin becomes part of the Northwest Territory.
1822
- Miners from Kentucky, Missouri, and other regions to the
south are attracted to the rich lead deposits in southwestern
Wisconsin, and there they establish the area's first permanent
white settlements. (Encarta, 1996)
1832
- The Black Hawk War ends. In a series of treaties signed
between 1829 and 1848 the United states acquires title to
most of the land in Wisconsin. (Encarta 1996)
1830s
- Some Wisconsin land is opened to public sale. A second
and larger wave of white settlers, many of them Yankee farmers
from New England and Upstate New York, are drawn to the
area. (Encarta 1996)
1836
- The Wisconsin Territory is created. Madison is the capital,
and Henry Dodge serves as governor. 1846 - Congress passes
an enabling act allowing statehood for Wisconsin.
1848
- The Constitution is ratified March 13; Wisconsin joins
the Union on May 29th as the 30th state. Madison is the
capital and the governor is Nelson Dewey. The state public
school system is created.
1850-1920s
- Immigration from Europe and Canada is responsible for
extensive changes to the social and economic development
of Wisconsin. Germans, Norwegians and Poles are heavily
represented among the new settlers. Many of the immigrants
have skills and training that contributes to the growth
of such industries as brewing, dairy, tanning, iron working,
and the manufacture of machinery. (Encarta 1996)
1855
- Wisconsin Supreme Court rules that the Fugitive Slave
Law is unconstitutional and that the state has the right
to free anyone illegally imprisoned. Wisconsin becomes a
voice for much of the northern sentiment against the extension
of slavery. The "Underground Railroad" thrives in Wisconsin.
1861-1865
- More than 85,000 Wisconsin men, in the 56 regiments the
state supplied to the Union Army, serve in the Civil War,
More than 12,000 Wisconsin soldiers die as the result of
the war.
1900
- Robert La Follette, Sr. leads a progressive faction of
the Republican party and wins the election to become Governor.
He is re-elected in 1902 and 1904. Known as "Fighting Bob,"
La Follette spearheads many important governmental reforms.
During his tenure and that of his progressive successors,
"Wisconsin became a laboratory for political and economic
experimentation. Drawing on experts from the University
of Wisconsin, in partnership between the state government
and the university that was known as the Wisconsin Idea,
the progressive Republicans institute direct primary elections,
railroad rate regulation, civil service and conservation
programs, workers' compensation, and many other reform measures."
(Encarta, 1996)
1911
- The state legislature passes many progressive reform laws.
They include the creation of a commission to settle labor
disputes and a teacher's pension fund. Workers' compensation
and vocational education laws are passed. The first statewide
vocational and educational network in the nation is established.
(Encarta, 1996)
1934
- Robert La Follette, Jr. and his brother Philip La Follette
form an independent Progressive Party." Combating the depression
at the state level, the Progressives institute a little
New Deal in Wisconsin, which gives stronger bargaining power
to labor unions, provides relief from farm indebtedness,
undertakes public-works projects, and passes the first unemployment
compensation law in the nation." (Encarta, 1996)
1947
- Joseph McCarthy of Appleton is elected to the U.S. Senate.
McCarthy quickly becomes one of the state's most controversial
political figures as he spearheads a campaign against supposed
Communist subversion. (Encarta, 1996)
1957
- William Proxmire is elected to The U.S. Senate and serves
as one of Wisconsin's senators for nearly thirty years.
He originates the Golden Fleece Award which makes note of
wasteful government spending.
1958
- Gaylord Nelson is elected as Wisconsin's first Democratic
governor. He later serves as a Senator and becomes the founder
of Earth Day.
1967
- Civil rights demonstrators march for an open-housing ordinance
in Milwaukee. Roman Catholic priest James Groppi and the
Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council members are at the forefront
of the marches which continue for several months.
1968
- With the adoption of a stringent open housing ordinance
the protests come to a halt. 1996 - Milwaukee celebrates
its Sesquicentennial on January 30th.
1998
- Wisconsin celebrates its Sesquicentennial on May 29th.
2001
- Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson resigns to assume a
cabinet position in the administration of President George
W. Bush as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
For
additional information about The Duncan Group, the Mystic
Lands series, or Wisconsin, please contact Patty@DuncanEntertainment.com.
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