Welcome To The Wisconsin History Association
We'd like to thank you for taking the time,looking into the many fun & interesting facts regarding Wisconsin history.We can't cover all the history here,but we most certainly can point you in the right direction.
We're just a group who gets together at the local library,and do our best to piece together in an understandable timeline to make the history not only understandable,but also fun to read as well.
Our history may not be as old as Egypt,but none the less it's just as facinating,and also gives us a feeling of being part of it.After all,it's many of our ancesters who paved the way,and shaped of what is now today the land we live in.
In The Beginning
The history of Wisconsin goes way back prior to us becoming a state in May,of 1848.
Mankind has left their footprints on these lands for well over 12,000 years.
As time went on,other cultures left their mark here with migration from varioys other tribes coming into the region.
The history here is more than the what the first European encountered,and the British & French one could say,entered into just another phase of our history back in the day.
Thousands of years before they arrived,the first inhabitants were hunting the wooly mammoth,and mastodons.Hunting was the main way of life here in the earliest times.This lasted for 1000's of years,then a new phase around 500 BC took place,when the inhabitants started to farm,and gather what the land produced,and this in turn started to create permanent settlements.
The Hopewell culture was one who significantly made an impact during that time,creating great influence on their living structures,not to mention artwork,and other aspects of life that can still be seen today.Their burial mounds,and some of their religious structures are still here today,and even though there is still much debate on this society,or culture as some put it.There is no doubt however,that some of the artwork is some of the most beautiful of the various American cultures of yesterday.
Soon after the Mississippian Culture made its way into Wisconsin,that lead way to the Oneota Cultural that soon,excuse my wording,but appeared to blend in/intermingle...became one with the Sioun tribes in the area,and one that many of us know well is the Ojibwa tribes.
First European Exploration
One of the interesting facts coming from some of the earliest expeditions here in the area,is that many of these explorers were still looking for a waterway to China.
Jean Nicolet is one of the famous explorers on record,and though he did not find the water route to China,he did later on establish one of the first trading posts in Green Bay in 1634.He paddled the great lakes,not having a clue where is journey would bring him.Those were certainly the times back then,and would be very interesting to go back,and watch his quest on looking for something that was not there to begin with.Although,his discoveries were just as great none the less.
Another famous expedition was underway in 1673.Two explorers by the name Jacques Marquette & Louis Jolliet.They we hot on the trail,going by tales told by the local tribes in the area of a great river.That river was the well known Mississippi that we know today.Many historical researchers still question what their thoughts were,and where this great river led.
We will be adding more of the first European travelers that made it this way,and hope to add some of the stories that they'd shared,and doccumented to shed a better understanding on exactly what they were looking for,not just their discoveries.
The French were the first explorers who set up the first trading posts,and settlements,but later on the British arrived,and once again another phase of history came into play.The French Indian War was one such instance that brought this change.It's was not a change over night,and there is a novel in itself the history between the 1760's till the mid of that decade.
So much interesting history is to be shared on this conflict,and as mentioned we really hope to be adding more of the diaries
,and personal logs.
On a side note,we'd like to add there is great significant historical heritage added at this time,regarding African Americans,and freed slaves.One such man was Charles Michael de Langlade.He's one of the first settlers,and not only that contributed much more to the settlement in Green Bay.A trading post for one,but he paved weay for others to join him in his new life as a freed slave.
Heritage at this time is so crucial to the understanding of the first European settlements,and we as researchers looking into the great history of this state,want to offer an indepth look,and try our best to imagine the feelings,thoughts,and hopes these fascinating historical individuals had.
The Years That Followed
In the year 1812,history started to make another turn,because up until this time,Wisconsin remained a territory since 1783.
The only way we can express things,and we hold so dear the Native Americans way of life,that the way of there way of living,took a change 30 some years after that,and we so want to include some indepth articles here at the site,that we don't read in our history books.
We so want to give our readers an indepth to the history here,and there are so many cultures that contributed to landscape of the land that we say today,and let me remind you we are thinking back as far as 10,000 years ago..when making such a powerful statement.
Our history may not be as glorified of that,that you'll find in the history books pertaining to the history of Egypt,and it's regions...But Wiscinsin comes in a close 2nd place :)
Wisconsin Becomes A State - May 29th,1848
Before the mid 1850's arrived,the state of Wisconisn had a population great than 150,000.
It was voted down by the territorial legislature,because the first draft was considered to extreme with the laws,and freedoms the wanted to put in place,and have highly debated subjects settled with a vote from the communities.
Once again in December of 1847,another convention was called,and the new constitution was toned down.It was approved in March of that year,and om May 29th,1848..Wisconsin became the 30th state of the United States.
Years That Followed II (Interesting Historical Facts)
During the 1850's,there were some radical thinkers in the state,and back in those days it was radical to help runaway slaves,and stand up to the concept of slavery.
The brave abolitionist groups set up half way stops,helping slaves reach freedom in Canada.These brave people would even storm a jail to free a man beccause of his color.
One of these groups was the Republican Party.The first Republican Party county meeting took place in Wisconsin,though two communities argue over the title,each of these communities is in the state.
New settlers flocked to Wisconsin in the 1850's.
Not only was opportunity a factor,and to make a life for oneself.It was the freedoms,and the liberal appraoch to the laws what attracted them as well.
When the Civil War arrived,Wisconsin had a roll call of 91,000 men who served.12,000 who never returned home.
Wisconsin also did its share in the feeding the newly growing United States.Agriculture was a major factor of the economy in those days,but seemed to slow down due to farmers depleting the soil,and insects that found their crops inviting.
Now to modern age,and practices,Wisconsing is now once again feeding the world.The cattle ranches,the dairy farms,and the corn & soybean crops,Wisconsin is now once a major player in the game.
Wisconsin Libraries
We'd like to thank those young,and old who have an interest in the historical aspects that our great state has to offer.
One place beyond all places we'd like to recommend,is your local library.There is a treasure trove of valuable historical information there waiting to be uncovered.
Libraries,and the many historical societies have vast resources,and are more than happy to point you in the right direction.
There is so much to know,and by starting in your local community,you'll find more information than you could ever believe is possible.
Researching Wisconsin's Past
Rootsweb - Fairmont Mn Chat Rooms - Linkpendium
We're just a group who gets together at the local library,and do our best to piece together in an understandable timeline to make the history not only understandable,but also fun to read as well.
Our history may not be as old as Egypt,but none the less it's just as facinating,and also gives us a feeling of being part of it.After all,it's many of our ancesters who paved the way,and shaped of what is now today the land we live in.
In The Beginning
The history of Wisconsin goes way back prior to us becoming a state in May,of 1848.
Mankind has left their footprints on these lands for well over 12,000 years.
As time went on,other cultures left their mark here with migration from varioys other tribes coming into the region.
The history here is more than the what the first European encountered,and the British & French one could say,entered into just another phase of our history back in the day.
Thousands of years before they arrived,the first inhabitants were hunting the wooly mammoth,and mastodons.Hunting was the main way of life here in the earliest times.This lasted for 1000's of years,then a new phase around 500 BC took place,when the inhabitants started to farm,and gather what the land produced,and this in turn started to create permanent settlements.
The Hopewell culture was one who significantly made an impact during that time,creating great influence on their living structures,not to mention artwork,and other aspects of life that can still be seen today.Their burial mounds,and some of their religious structures are still here today,and even though there is still much debate on this society,or culture as some put it.There is no doubt however,that some of the artwork is some of the most beautiful of the various American cultures of yesterday.
Soon after the Mississippian Culture made its way into Wisconsin,that lead way to the Oneota Cultural that soon,excuse my wording,but appeared to blend in/intermingle...became one with the Sioun tribes in the area,and one that many of us know well is the Ojibwa tribes.
First European Exploration
One of the interesting facts coming from some of the earliest expeditions here in the area,is that many of these explorers were still looking for a waterway to China.
Jean Nicolet is one of the famous explorers on record,and though he did not find the water route to China,he did later on establish one of the first trading posts in Green Bay in 1634.He paddled the great lakes,not having a clue where is journey would bring him.Those were certainly the times back then,and would be very interesting to go back,and watch his quest on looking for something that was not there to begin with.Although,his discoveries were just as great none the less.
Another famous expedition was underway in 1673.Two explorers by the name Jacques Marquette & Louis Jolliet.They we hot on the trail,going by tales told by the local tribes in the area of a great river.That river was the well known Mississippi that we know today.Many historical researchers still question what their thoughts were,and where this great river led.
We will be adding more of the first European travelers that made it this way,and hope to add some of the stories that they'd shared,and doccumented to shed a better understanding on exactly what they were looking for,not just their discoveries.
The French were the first explorers who set up the first trading posts,and settlements,but later on the British arrived,and once again another phase of history came into play.The French Indian War was one such instance that brought this change.It's was not a change over night,and there is a novel in itself the history between the 1760's till the mid of that decade.
So much interesting history is to be shared on this conflict,and as mentioned we really hope to be adding more of the diaries
,and personal logs.
On a side note,we'd like to add there is great significant historical heritage added at this time,regarding African Americans,and freed slaves.One such man was Charles Michael de Langlade.He's one of the first settlers,and not only that contributed much more to the settlement in Green Bay.A trading post for one,but he paved weay for others to join him in his new life as a freed slave.
Heritage at this time is so crucial to the understanding of the first European settlements,and we as researchers looking into the great history of this state,want to offer an indepth look,and try our best to imagine the feelings,thoughts,and hopes these fascinating historical individuals had.
The Years That Followed
In the year 1812,history started to make another turn,because up until this time,Wisconsin remained a territory since 1783.
The only way we can express things,and we hold so dear the Native Americans way of life,that the way of there way of living,took a change 30 some years after that,and we so want to include some indepth articles here at the site,that we don't read in our history books.
We so want to give our readers an indepth to the history here,and there are so many cultures that contributed to landscape of the land that we say today,and let me remind you we are thinking back as far as 10,000 years ago..when making such a powerful statement.
Our history may not be as glorified of that,that you'll find in the history books pertaining to the history of Egypt,and it's regions...But Wiscinsin comes in a close 2nd place :)
Wisconsin Becomes A State - May 29th,1848
Before the mid 1850's arrived,the state of Wisconisn had a population great than 150,000.
It was voted down by the territorial legislature,because the first draft was considered to extreme with the laws,and freedoms the wanted to put in place,and have highly debated subjects settled with a vote from the communities.
Once again in December of 1847,another convention was called,and the new constitution was toned down.It was approved in March of that year,and om May 29th,1848..Wisconsin became the 30th state of the United States.
Years That Followed II (Interesting Historical Facts)
During the 1850's,there were some radical thinkers in the state,and back in those days it was radical to help runaway slaves,and stand up to the concept of slavery.
The brave abolitionist groups set up half way stops,helping slaves reach freedom in Canada.These brave people would even storm a jail to free a man beccause of his color.
One of these groups was the Republican Party.The first Republican Party county meeting took place in Wisconsin,though two communities argue over the title,each of these communities is in the state.
New settlers flocked to Wisconsin in the 1850's.
Not only was opportunity a factor,and to make a life for oneself.It was the freedoms,and the liberal appraoch to the laws what attracted them as well.
When the Civil War arrived,Wisconsin had a roll call of 91,000 men who served.12,000 who never returned home.
Wisconsin also did its share in the feeding the newly growing United States.Agriculture was a major factor of the economy in those days,but seemed to slow down due to farmers depleting the soil,and insects that found their crops inviting.
Now to modern age,and practices,Wisconsing is now once again feeding the world.The cattle ranches,the dairy farms,and the corn & soybean crops,Wisconsin is now once a major player in the game.
Wisconsin Libraries
We'd like to thank those young,and old who have an interest in the historical aspects that our great state has to offer.
One place beyond all places we'd like to recommend,is your local library.There is a treasure trove of valuable historical information there waiting to be uncovered.
Libraries,and the many historical societies have vast resources,and are more than happy to point you in the right direction.
There is so much to know,and by starting in your local community,you'll find more information than you could ever believe is possible.
Researching Wisconsin's Past
Rootsweb - Fairmont Mn Chat Rooms - Linkpendium