State and Local Government

1. State and Local Government Chapter One Wisconsin Overview

2. Changing Population • First settlers were Native Americans: Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Fox, and Sauk peoples • These tribes either migrated from Canada or were driven here after the Europeans arrived (i.e. Cheyenne, Huron, Illini) • Americans from other states and European immigrants began settling in Wisconsin in the late 1820s and early 1830s • Yankees from New England settled in SE WI and dominated business, culture, and politics for the majority of the 19th century • Americans from the South typically settled in the SW part of the state by the Mississippi River • Wisconsin aggressively sought immigrants- why? • Help to settle the frontier, build, provide infrastructure

3. Immigrants • By 1850, the largest groups of immigrants were Germans, British, Irish, and Scandinavians • By 1860, half of WI was foreign born or 1st generation Americans • By 1890, that number was up to 75% • Thus, we were one of the states with the largest immigrant populations

4. Immigrants Continued • Germans were the largest foreign-born group in WI • Milwaukee known as a German city (German language newspapers, churches, and social clubs) • Norwegians were 2nd largest group • 1890-1920, shift in ethnicities of immigrants: Italians, Czechs, Slovaks, Serbs, Croatians, Greeks, Russians, Hungarians • What inferences can you make about the shift?

5. Wisconsin Today • As of 2007, 5.6 million people live in our state • 88.1% is Caucasian • Minority population on the rise to 11.9% • Native Americans used to be the largest minority group, now less than 1% of the population (11 tribes with land holdings) • African-Americans have been largest minority since 1950 (5.7% now, mostly concentrated in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha Counties) • Hispanics and Asians (4.5% and 2%, respectively) Note that Mexicans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the state, doubling their population between 1990 and 2000 and the richness of the Asian culture in WI, especially Hmong populations • See figure 1, p 8

6. More WI Today • Religion: Catholics and Lutherans dominate (60% of the population right there) • Urban/Rural: WI has become increasingly urban over time (70% of the population lives in cities, most of them near Lake Michigan, 30% alone in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha Counties) • Age: Gradually, the population is getting older (median age has risen from 27 years in 1970 to 36 in 2007) • Why is any of this important? Because as different groups inhabit an area, different needs and services must be addressed as well as the people having different ideas about the role government should play in their lives…the government must therefore change to meet the needs of its citizens!

7. WI Economy • Originally purely based on hunting, fishing, gathering and subsistence agriculture • Fur trading was main industry in the Great Lakes in 1600s • Lead and copper miners were also drawn to the area • With immigrants came a need for land, the US Govt bought half the state from the Native Americans in 1837 (land cession) • Shift in the economy to grain farming, milling, farm implement manufacturing, lumbering • Competition and changes in technology made us shift from grain to dairy • By 1920, we were America’s Dairyland • Light industry replaced by heavy industry (steel fabrication, manufacture of machinery, automobiles, etc.) • This became the foundation for WI’s modern economy (based primarily on manufacturing, service, tourism, and agribusiness- producing and distributing farm commodities, equipment, and supplies) Nearly 25% of all WI jobs are service jobs now

8. Development of WI Government • WI’s first govt was tribal (now, tribes are sovereign nations and rule themselves on tribal lands) • Northwest Territory created in 18th century (then statehood: Ohio-1803, Indiana-1816, Illinois-1818, Michigan-1837, Wisconsin-1848) • In 1846, the state began writing its state constitution outlining the structure of the state government, 83% were Democratic delegates • Initial constitution voted down, 1847 a new one was drafted, a more politically balanced one (62% Democratic) • On March 13th 1848, the constitution was approved. • On May 29 1848, WI became a state. • Wisconsin followed the principles of Jacksonian Democracy (based on principles of equality, apportionment by population, majority rule, rotation of office) • Yankee values persist today: belief in hard work, self-government, universal literacy, and active involvement in church and community)

9. Political Thought In Wisconsin • Emphasis on the value of personal liberty (comes from immigrants fleeing oppression in their homelands), want less government regulation in their personal lives • Emphasis on education and a positive role for government • Influenced by Progressives (faction in the 1800s and early 1900s seeking equality and better opportunities, greater government regulation of social problems) • Government reform- changing or improving government by removing its faults or abuses • Examples included the start of worker’s comp and the graduated income tax

10. Progressive Reform • Progressives emerged under the leadership of Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follettein the late 1880s • Fought against the Stalwarts, who represented major business interests such as railroads, banks, and manufacturing- they controlled the Republican party until 1900 • La Follette promoted open, honest, and free government and wanted that to be the focus of the Republican party • He served as governor from 1900 to 1906 and senator from 1906 to 1925

11. Progressive Reform, Continued • Socialists also had a strong influence (mostly German support in Milwaukee)- even elected socialist mayors into the 1950s which was unheard of at the time • Progressives and Socialists worked together to reform the state government • Example was the introduction of the direct primary in 1904 (1st state to have it) • Others are state income tax, worker’s comp, factory safety laws, natural resource conservation, and highway construction • Together, all this reform and political thought became known as the Wisconsin Idea: that there is a public interest (a “greater good”) and that government, business leaders, and universities can cooperate to advance that interest

12. The Wisconsin Idea Reformers believed the role of governmentis to: Build the necessary infrastructure (transportation, schools, etc.): Serve the public Protect the poor Distribute fairly the state’s resources Then the universities supply knowledge and technological expertise to further the public interest The private sector (businesses) provides entrepreneurship and job opportunities necessary for prosperity and good quality of life for WI citizens

13. Wisconsin’s Identity • WI Idea remains an integral part of our identity (How do you see it playing a role still?) • We still believe that govt should play a role in improving the lives of citizens • We still believe in honest and efficient government • We have an open govt- we can participate and follow what our govt is doing • Progressive-style social experimentation continues (welfare reform, charter schools, school vouchers, etc.)

14. Overview of WI Govt • Each WI citizen belongs to each of these units: • The Nation • The State • The County • The Municipal Government (town, village, city) • The Technical College District • The School District This results in a lot of government work being performed on the local level (there are over 3000 units of local govt in WI!, including towns, cities, villages, school districts, etc.) Think of these units not as a layer cake, but as a marble cake (responsibilities and activities of govt blends and overlaps from one level to the next) A good example is highway construction: they are built and maintained by state government, local governments assist with construction and maintenance, national government provides most of the funding And remember, government is always changing!