by Suzette Baker

Created on: July 17, 2010   Last Updated: July 18, 2010

Even before Wisconsin became a territory and later a state, it had been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. Before the Europeans began exploring the region in the 1600’s, the area was inhabited by various Indian tribes. Among these tribes were the Winnebago, Menominee, Dakota, Kickapoo and Miami Indians. The Winnebago could be found in the area between Lake Winnebago and Green Bay, whereas, the Menominee inhabited the regions west and north of Green Bay. The northwest region of the state was the home of the Dakota. During the late 1600’s, several other tribes were driven from their homes by the white man and settled in the Wisconsin area. Others, like the Chippewa, used the region as a haven to escape the Iroquois League.

When the French explorer Jean Nicolet entered the Wisconsin area in 1634 while searching for a water route to China, he became the first white man to enter the region. He landed on the shore of Green Bay and according to legend, was disappointed when he was approached by Indians instead of Chinese officials. He spent the winter with the Indians and started a trading post before returning to Quebec with the news that North America was much larger than anyone had anticipated.

Twenty-five years later in 1659, Medard Chousart, Sieur des Groseilliers and Pierre Esprit Radisson explored the region in search of furs. Because the main interest of the French colonist was the fur trade, a few small outposts were established with the first one called La Baye being set up at Green Bay. The next white people to arrive in the Wisconsin area were missionaries. Father Rene Menard arrived in 1660 and established a Roman Catholic mission. Approximately five years later, Father Claude Jean Allouez arrived in the area of present-day De Pere and with help from Father Louis Andre founded a center for the purpose of carrying out missionary work.

Prior to 1712, when war broke out between the French and the Fox Indians, the relationship between the French and the Indians had been a peaceful one. But, by 1712, both the French and the Indians wanted control over the main water routes, namely the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. There were numerous bloody battles that eventually ended in victory for the French in 1740. There was; however, a downside to their hard won victory. Not only were the French defenses weakened, but the war had also cost them several of their Indian allies.

The year 1754 saw the beginning of the French and Indian War in which the

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