Turning Points
in Wisconsin History
Progressivism and the Wisconsin Idea
In the first quarter of the twentieth century, Wisconsin leaders began to seek new answers to problems caused by an increasingly industrial and technological society. To a people born and raised mostly on farms, the explosive growth of cities, rising importance of large-scale industry, transformation of the workforce by new immigrants and rigid class stratification, and the overall speed of daily life brought uncertainty and confusion. In other states social movements such as the Greenback Party and Populist Party tried to address these changes, but little was accomplished in Wisconsin until after the year 1900 when "Progressives" gained control of... more...
Original Documents and Other Primary Sources
 | A survey of progressive politics in Wisconsin, 1934 |
| A journalist reviews Progressive achievements, 1900-1930. |
| Wisconsin passes worker's compensation law, 1911. |
| Charles McCarthy, architect of progressive reforms, is recalled. |
| Wisconsin voting and civil rights legislation, 1846-1929. |
| Campaign literature from Robert La Follette |
| A survey of socialist viewpoints, 1918 |
 | A miniature kit teaches mothers about safe homebirths, 1938 |
| A water glass used by Teddy Roosevelt after being shot, 1912 |
 | A guide to Progressivism for women voters, 1922 |
| Madison women produce a cookbook to help poor children, 1894 |
| Lawmakers try to end prostitution in 1914 |
| A short history of prison industries, 1852-2002 |
| Conditions in state prisons, schools, and hospitals, 1955 |
| The "Traveling Libraries" program in Wisconsin, 1897 |
| Progressive Era educators design the ideal school, 1907 |
| A Milwaukee woman urges woman and child labor reform, 1899. |
| A brief summary of women's suffrage legislation in the U.S. and abroad, 1907 |
| An 1897 bicycling guide to Wisconsin |
 | Francis E. McGovern, Progressive Era governor. |
 | "Aunt Nellie" offers advice to farm women, 1912-1918 |
| John Deitz makes his case, 1906 |
| The lumber company makes its case against Deitz, 1906 |
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