The State Constitutions of 1846 and 1848
For most of Wisconsin's territorial existence, political leaders and businessmen (often one and the same) had urged the territory's advancement toward statehood. They believed that statehood would give politicians both personal and political benefits by increasing their scope of power and influence. Businessmen would benefit from a more efficient and cohesive government that could more effectively attract investments from the East to aid Wisconsin's economic development. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 had prescribed the conditions under which territories could be admitted as states. Whenever a territory's population reached 60,000 free inhabitants, it would be eligible for statehood with the same... more...
Original Documents and Other Primary Sources
| An African American attempts to vote in Milwaukee in 1865 |
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| A Milwaukee newspaper disputes the results of the 1849 referendum on black suffrage |
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| The Shooting in the Territorial Council - 1 |
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| Wisconsin's Black citizens fight for suffrage, 1847-1869 |
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| Delegates debate whether banks should be outlawed in the 1846 constitution. |
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| The Waukesha Freeman denounces the 1848 constitution |
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| An anonymous writer advocates women's rights in the 1846 constitution. |
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| Debates about suffrage during the 1846 convention. |
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| A group expresses their opposition to women's rights |
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| A Racine attorney argues against giving women and immigrants rights |
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| An 1846 delegate offers a moderate position on banks. |
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| The memoirs of Nelson Dewey, the state's first governor. |
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| Wisconsin voting and civil rights legislation, 1846-1929. |
| The Shooting in the Territorial Council - 2 |
| The approved constitution of 1848 |
| Early Wisconsin settler and Madison Promoter James Duane Doty |
| Northern settlers try to join Minnesota, 1847 |
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| The rejected constitution of 1846 |
| The first capitol in Belmont |
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| Wisconsin State Capitol |
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| Stonefield, home of Gov. Nelson Dewey and the State Agricultural Museum |
Primary Sources Available Elsewhere
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| The Wisconsin Constitution as it reads today. |
Related Links
 Read an article on the constitutions from the Wisconsin Bar Association.
Discover classroom resources available from our Office of School Services
A history of ethnic assimilation and the law, 1846-1920
A history of Wisconsin women's legal rights, 1846-1920
Search our catalogs for materials on this topic that aren't yet available online.
Borrow books about this topic through our interlibrary loan service
Borrow manuscripts about this topic through our Area Research Center network.
Learn about other topics from our new book, Wisconsin History Highlights
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