The first half of the nineteenth century was a time of dramatic change in the United States. New technology rapidly transformed business and industry, as well as agriculture. The beginnings of industrialization stimulated shifts in population from rural to more urban areas. Waves of immigrants arrived at eastern port cities. And the availability of low-cost land on the western frontier with the continual acquisition of national territory prompted thousands to set out for the West. These economic and demographic dislocations introduced new social problems and aggravated long-existing ones, especially those concerning matters of poverty, morality, and social justice. Though less... more...
![Link to article: Reformers organize to curb alcohol abuse in 1840.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Reformers organize to curb alcohol abuse in 1840. |
![Link to article: An experimental community establishes its rules, 1845](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An experimental community establishes its rules, 1845 |
![Link to article: A brief history of Ceresco, 1885](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A brief history of Ceresco, 1885 |
![Link to article: A Grant County slave sues his master for wages in 1846.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Grant County slave sues his master for wages in 1846. |
![Link to article: An escaped slave's experience in Wisconsin in 1847.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An escaped slave's experience in Wisconsin in 1847. |
![Link to article: Janesville residents refuse to turn over a fugitive slave in 1861.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Janesville residents refuse to turn over a fugitive slave in 1861. |
![Link to article: Letters of Charles Sumner and Wendell Phillips on the Glover Case.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Letters of Charles Sumner and Wendell Phillips on the Glover Case. |
![Link to article: A bricklayer recalls storming the Milwaukee jail to liberate Glover](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A bricklayer recalls storming the Milwaukee jail to liberate Glover |
![Link to article: A look at the life and legacy of Frances Willard](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A look at the life and legacy of Frances Willard |
![Link to article: A temperance society forms in 1835](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A temperance society forms in 1835 |
![Link to article: A Wisconsin officer refuses to give slaves back to their owners (1), 1862](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Wisconsin officer refuses to give slaves back to their owners (1), 1862 |
![Link to article: A Wisconsin officer refuses to give slaves back to their owners (2), 1862](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Wisconsin officer refuses to give slaves back to their owners (2), 1862 |
![Link to article: The Wisconsin Supreme Court reaffirms black voting rights, 1866](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The Wisconsin Supreme Court reaffirms black voting rights, 1866 |
![Link to article: Byron Paine argues on behalf of Booth before the Supreme Court, 1854](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Byron Paine argues on behalf of Booth before the Supreme Court, 1854 |
![Link to article: A Milwaukee newspaper disputes the results of the 1849 referendum on black suffrage](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Milwaukee newspaper disputes the results of the 1849 referendum on black suffrage |
![Link to article: An African American attempts to vote in Milwaukee in 1865](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An African American attempts to vote in Milwaukee in 1865 |
![Link to article: A Waukesha editor recalls the underground railroad](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A Waukesha editor recalls the underground railroad |
![Link to article: Recollections of Wisconsin slaves by pioneer settlers.](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Recollections of Wisconsin slaves by pioneer settlers. |
![Link to article: The Abolitionist Movement in Wisconsin Recalled (1907)](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | The Abolitionist Movement in Wisconsin Recalled (1907) |
![Link to article: Joshua Glover's Pursuers State Their Case (1854)](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Joshua Glover's Pursuers State Their Case (1854) |
![Link to article: Reward Advertisement for Joshua Glover (1852)](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | Reward Advertisement for Joshua Glover (1852) |
![Link to article: An Overview of Ceresco](/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | An Overview of Ceresco |
![Link to artifacts: The 6-foot knife that symbolized Northern sentiments in 1860.](/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | The 6-foot knife that symbolized Northern sentiments in 1860. |
![Link to book: Underground railroad conductors recall some courageous escapes.](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Underground railroad conductors recall some courageous escapes. |
![Link to book: A Wisconsin Republican leader repudiates slavery in 1860](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A Wisconsin Republican leader repudiates slavery in 1860 |
![Link to book: An Abolitionist Recalls Anti-Slavery Days in Wisconsin](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An Abolitionist Recalls Anti-Slavery Days in Wisconsin |
![Link to book: Wisconsin Outlaws Capital Punishment (1853)](/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Wisconsin Outlaws Capital Punishment (1853) |
![Link to images: Abolitionist leader and editor, Sherman Booth (1812-1904)](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Abolitionist leader and editor, Sherman Booth (1812-1904) |
![Link to images: An 1854 broadside announcing an abolitionist rally.](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | An 1854 broadside announcing an abolitionist rally. |
![Link to images: Photograph of attorney Byron Paine, ca. 1860](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Photograph of attorney Byron Paine, ca. 1860 |
![Link to images: A portrait of Ezekiel Gillespie](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | A portrait of Ezekiel Gillespie |
![Link to images: Portrait of Ezekiel Gillespie](/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Portrait of Ezekiel Gillespie |
![Link to manuscript: A former slaveholder explains how he became an abolitionist, 1840](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | A former slaveholder explains how he became an abolitionist, 1840 |
![Link to manuscript: Activists in Waukesha County organize to fight slavery, 1847.](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Activists in Waukesha County organize to fight slavery, 1847. |
![Link to manuscript: A Racine man looks back on his years with the underground railroad](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | A Racine man looks back on his years with the underground railroad |
![Link to manuscript: Carl Schurz meets with Abraham Lincoln, July 1860](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Carl Schurz meets with Abraham Lincoln, July 1860 |
![Link to manuscript: A former slave sues for back wages in 1840](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | A former slave sues for back wages in 1840 |
![Link to manuscript: Gov. Henry Dodge frees his enslaved workers, 1838](/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Gov. Henry Dodge frees his enslaved workers, 1838 |