Turning Points
in Wisconsin History
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
 | Debates about suffrage during the 1846 convention. |
| An anonymous writer advocates women's rights in the 1846 constitution. |
| A group expresses their opposition to women's rights |
| The Waukesha Freeman denounces the 1848 constitution |
| A Racine attorney argues against giving women and immigrants rights |
| Delegates debate whether banks should be outlawed in the 1846 constitution. |
| An 1846 delegate offers a moderate position on banks. |
| The memoirs of Nelson Dewey, the state's first governor. |
| Wisconsin voting and civil rights legislation, 1846-1929. |
| Wisconsin's Black citizens fight for suffrage, 1847-1869 |
| The Shooting in the Territorial Council - 1 |
| A Milwaukee newspaper disputes the results of the 1849 referendum on black suffrage |
| An African American attempts to vote in Milwaukee in 1865 |
 | The Shooting in the Territorial Council - 2 |
 | The approved constitution of 1848 |
 | Early Wisconsin settler and Madison Promoter James Duane Doty |
 | The rejected constitution of 1846 |
| Northern settlers try to join Minnesota, 1847 |
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