Wisconsin (IPA pronunciation: ) is a state in the United States, located in the Midwest. The rural economy was originally based on furs, then came lumber, farming, dairy, and vacationing. Industrialization began in the late 19th century in the southeast, with Milwaukee as the major center. In recent decades service industries, especially medicine and education, have become dominant.

The state has always been ethnically heterogeneous. The Yankees arrived first and long dominated industry, finance, politics and education. Large numbers of Germans arrived between 1850 and 1900, centering in Milwaukee, but also settling in many small cities and farm areas in the southeast. Scandinavians settled in lumbering and farming areas in the northwest. Small colonies of Belgians, Swiss, Finns and other groups came to the state. Irish Catholics mostly came to the cities. After 1900, Polish immigrants came to Milwaukee, followed by African Americans from 1940 on.

Politically, the state was a Republican stronghold that supported the Union during the Civil War. Ethnoreligious issues regarding schools split the Republican coalition briefly in 1890. From 1900 to the 1940s, Robert La Follette and his sons dominated state politics using the Republican Party and then their own Progressive Party. Since 1945, the state has maintained a close balance between the Republicans and Democrats. The Republicans put forth conservative-to-moderate Governor Tommy Thompson in the 1980s and 1990s, while the Democrats have produced liberal Senator Russ Feingold in the 2000s. Conant ch 1; Barone and Cohen; Pearce

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7-0 | Miami Hurricanes just scored with 14:37 remaining in the 1st quarter; Hurricanes 7, Badgers 0. #wisconsin #badgers
badgersff (Badgers on FanFeedr) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:35 -0000
7-0 | Miami Hurricanes just scored with 14:37 remaining in the 1st quarter; Hurricanes 7, Badgers 0. #wisconsin #badgers
Only 23 secs into Miami vs Wisconsin and you can already tell it's going to be an explosive game! #fb
daveyjacobson (Davey Jacobson) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:31 -0000
Only 23 secs into Miami vs Wisconsin and you can already tell it's going to be an explosive game! #fb
Why Wisconsin bring that slow ass ish down here? UM to quick. Lol.
TheLaLa4lyfe (Lattisha ) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:26 -0000
Why Wisconsin bring that slow ass ish down here? UM to quick. Lol.
I dnt like the Miami Hurricanes buh I do want them to beat Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl!
skinnychick08 (Leandra Roberts) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:25 -0000
I dnt like the Miami Hurricanes buh I do want them to beat Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl!
@espn4d the U is too fast for wisconsin...I see a trend coming for the slow 10 I ment big 10 for bowl season
Bucsfan96 (Darren H) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:24 -0000
@espn4d the U is too fast for wisconsin...I see a trend coming for the slow 10 I ment big 10 for bowl season
I'm hungry, Olive Garden need to hurry up with my food so I can watch UM kick Wisconsin's ass
SP215 (Sharif) Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:15 -0000
I'm hungry, Olive Garden need to hurry up with my food so I can watch UM kick Wisconsin's ass

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