This study of political abolitionism in Wisconsin between 1840 and 1861 demonstrates the importance of slavery-related issues in bringing on the political crises of the 1850s and the American Civil War. It shows Wisconsin as having been comparatively radical on slavery and race-related issues.
Excerpt from Memorial Record of the Fathers of Wisconsin, Containing Sketches of the Lives and Career of the Members of the Constitutional Conventions of 1846 and 1847-8: With a History of Early Settlement in Wisconsin It seems necessary to a right understanding of some of the most important questions agitating the west only a little over a generation ago, to precede the sketches of members of the conventions by a brief preliminary and explanatory chapter. \vhile this can only be partially done, omitting much of interest and value, it will nevertheless, it is hoped, sufi'iciently illustrate a few leading and now forgotten points of contention; indicate to some, extent the thought of the period, the difficulties to be met, and the measures regarded as essential to the protection and security of the future. State constitutions in many respects are the outgrowth of the necessities of the time in which they are framed, and are thus a type of the era which gives them birth, directly re ecting public opinion in their chief features, and hence of great historical significance. Considered as land - marks in the nation's progress, we have no more certain guides than the organic laws of the states. They are reliable photographs of the time that produced them, whatever changes may thereafter be made. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."
This volume profiles all the people who have served as Wisconsin Supreme Court justices and includes an introduction by Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson summarizing the court's history and its vision for the future.
"This comparative study of state constitutions offers insightful overviews of the general and specific problems that have confronted America's constitution writers since the country's founding. Each chapter reflects the constitutional theory and history of a single state, encompassing each document's structure, content, and evolution"--Provided by publisher.