The story of how Wisconsin became a state involves the history of our nation and the states around it. This history touches on international conflicts and other border considerations inside the United States.

As the United States was growing just after the Continental Congress ratified the Constitution in 1787, Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance. This was the starting point for the area now known as the “Midwest.”

In 1818, Illinois annexed a strip along its northern border reaching 31 miles to the north — into the Michigan Territory. The Michigan Territory included what would become Michigan, Wisconsin, portions of Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Illinois needed the strip of land to gain 1,400 residents. This helped Illinois surpass the population of 60,000 residents, which was required for statehood. Without this move the area that includes Stephenson County, Illinois, might have eventually ended up in Wisconsin.

Geographically it seems natural that the Upper Peninsula of Michigan should be part of Wisconsin, but in 1835-1836, there was a land dispute between the state of Ohio and the Michigan Territory. This was the Toledo War. Both Ohio and the Michigan Territory claimed a nearly 500-square-mile area known as the Toledo Strip. The “war” was almost without conflict and ended in a Congressional compromise with Ohio gaining the Toledo Strip, and Michigan, which became a state in 1837, receiving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

At the time, Michigan was considered the “loser” in the compromise. However, in the 1840s, large iron and copper deposits were discovered in the Upper Peninsula. In economic respects, the deposits were a greater financial resource than all the gold found in the California Gold Rush. Michigan’s gain of the Upper Peninsula was proved well worth it.

What would become eventually the Wisconsin Territory, evolved out of the different changes over time in territories known as the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory and Michigan Territory. These territories became parts of several states. In the 1800s, what became the Wisconsin Territory became a settling point for vast numbers of immigrants from Germany, Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, Finland and the Netherlands.

Wisconsin, before Jean Nicolet arrived in 1634, had a rich American Indian history. From what we know about the time prior to Nicolet’s arrival the area was populated by Dakota Oyate, Chiwere and Algonquian Menominee American Indian tribes. As European settlers started moving west, tribes such as the Ojibwe, Illinois, Sauk, Mahican and Iroquois inhabited the land. French trappers and traders lived and worked among the American Indians. Not all of the American Indians liked the presence of the French — especially the Iroquois. The Beaver Wars, fought among American Indians supplied with British, Dutch and French weapons, prevented greater French involvement in Wisconsin until after the mid-1600s.

The British gained influence in the area, taking control of Green Bay in 1761 — and eventually all of Wisconsin in 1763. After the American Revolution, the United States acquired lands that included Wisconsin from the British in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Interestingly enough, the state of Virginia, at one time, laid claim to portions of northern Wisconsin. Only one battle in the War of 1812 was fought in Wisconsin — the British defeated an American garrison in the Siege of Prairie du Chien in 1814. After the War of 1812, Wisconsin being part of the United States was reaffirmed by the Treaty of Ghent in 1815.

The first permanent settlers, other than American Indians, in Wisconsin, were French Canadians, New Englanders and African American freedmen. Green Bay and Milwaukee were important early settlements in Wisconsin. The fort involved in the Siege at Prairie du Chien was burned by the British after the War of 1812. Understanding the importance of that point along the Mississippi River, the United States built Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien in 1816. This created a destination on the Mississippi River and led to the creation of the “Military Road” from east to west across Wisconsin. This Military Road was little more than a somewhat undistinguishable trail. However, as it came into greater use, settlers created homesteads along it and this led to some of the southern settlement of Wisconsin. Also, settlers in the Milwaukee area spread westward and that’s how many of the settlements in southern Wisconsin — including Janesville — were founded.

Green Bay’s longtime influence as a landing and port was a place from which other settlements spread westward in northern Wisconsin. Settlement also came from the Superior and Duluth area south.

Conflict was a large part of the years leading up to Wisconsin’s statehood including the Winnebago War of 1827 and the Black Hawk War of 1832.

When these conflicts were settled, many people were drawn to the area to mine lead. Mineral Point, Platteville, Belmont and Shullsburg were all lead mining boom towns that continued after the lead-mining rush. Lead mining created swifter settlement in Wisconsin than the growth of Milwaukee.

Federal land offices were opened in Green Bay and Mineral Point to register claims and land for settlement in 1834.

The Wisconsin Territory was created by Congress in 1836. It initially had portions of what would become the Dakotas, Iowa and Minnesota. Congress first wrote Wisconsin as “Wiskonsin.” Belmont was the first territorial capitol. However, after the new legislature’s initial meeting there, it didn’t think it was an adequate location.

The territorial capitol was temporarily moved to Burlington while a new city, “Madison,” was being built on the isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota to be the state capitol.

Wisconsin’s population exceeded 150,000 before the territorial legislature voted to apply for statehood in 1846. Wisconsin became the 30th state in the Union in 1848 — it was the last state completely east of the Mississippi River to join.

As a state heading into the 20th Century, Wisconsin pioneered Progressivism and “The Wisconsin Idea,” which is the policy that public universities contribute to the government. This included university scholars giving advice regarding public policy and lending any technical skill developed to the benefit of the people. The University of Wisconsin-Extension continues in this capacity. The “Wisconsin Idea” also included the theory that the State Legislature should create policy that benefitted the majority of residents.

(Historical information, dates and factual information included in this column were gleaned from Wiki pages and maps.)

— Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.