History of Wisconsin: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Badger State, Starting from the Arrival of Jean Nicolet through the Fox Wars, War of 1812, and Gilded Age to the Present
If you want to discover the captivating history of Wisconsin, then keep reading...
The pristine lakes, towering forests, and breathtaking views of Wisconsin are well-known sights that attract large numbers of tourists every year. Thousands of people flock to Wisconsin each year to hunt in its woods, fish in its waters, or kayak along its many rivers. There are plenty of museums to walk through, too, and much to see within them, from the tragic stories in the Peshtigo Fire Museum to the awe-inspiring sight of the fossilized Boaz mastodon at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
However, the history of Wisconsin is so much more than just exhibits in museums. The 30th state has a long, rich story behind its modern-day facade. Thousands of years ago, ancient peoples hunted giant beasts on the frozen glaciers that have now given way to rivers and lakes. Rich cultures populated the frigid early forests of Wisconsin, eventually giving way to the arrival of French explorers. Soon, the British took over, ushering in an era of booming colonization, and Wisconsin saw its first recorded war. With the American Revolution, Wisconsin became free, and that brought a whole new set of challenges for its people to face.
Wisconsin’s history is as richly detailed and relentlessly interesting as its glorious landscapes. Its history has always paralleled that of the United States, giving a fascinating deeper glimpse into a story we all know so well. Wisconsin saw the effects of colonialism, stood up for the rights of all people during the Civil War, and endured the wrath of fire. And in this book, you'll discover its story.
In History of Wisconsin: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Badger State, Starting from the Arrival of Jean Nicolet through the Fox Wars, War of 1812, and Gilded Age to the Present, you will discover topics such as Wild Wisconsin French Colonization British Colonization Wisconsin as a United States Territory Wisconsin as a State Wisconsin Burns And much, much more!
The most I knew about Wisconsin (before reading this book) was the Peshtigo Fire of 1871 (learned from another book by Captivating History) and that they produce lots of superb cheese. I really liked how the author tied the prehistory of Wisconsin with the mastodon remains found by four rambunctious Dosch boys in 1897. The author doesn't get too bogged down in explaining the Clovis people and the people who followed; I liked the gentle overview of the salient facts.
It's interesting to note that 4/5 of the indigenous peoples of America have common DNA with the Clovis people. The author makes the point that the French were the people who interacted most kindly with the indigenous folks. This is a well-written, interesting story of a state that few of us know well. There is also a generous list of sources at the end, for further study.
Weirdly rushed book. Feels like a high school history essay that was left half-finished. It started off promising with some interesting early history, but this is not a full history of Wisconsin to the present. The next section of the book spends more time on US history and only touches on Wisconsin as a brief afterthought. The ending is odd, as it goes from straight from the Peshtigo Fire to the bombing of the University of Wisconsin with zero transition then abruptly ends. Reads like 150 years of history never existed. There is much about Wisconsin including labor rights, progressivism, and McCarthyism that was not even mentioned. Very incomplete book and disappointing. I hope there is a complete rework of this book because there is some really promising early history and why it gets a second star.
The writing was a tad flowery, but held my interest. However, we jumped from the 1800s to present day, leaving 80 years of Wisconsin history in the dust. Did the author get tired of the subject? It would be a sad affair if the only event between statehood and the present was the Armstrong bombing in 1970. I'm from Wisconsin and know more history than the author. The entire thing is a sugar coated version of the state's long history. Too bad.