Abraham Lincoln and Wisconsin

Abraham Lincoln was aware that Wisconsin had contributed to his success. The Republican party had been created in Wisconsin in the town of Ripon, and during his presidency, Lincoln took the time to visit the state.

He spoke at several political gatherings of the Republican party before and after his election in 1860. One of the first was at the Wisconsin State Fair of 1859, after which he traveled to Beloit and gave an address at Hanchett's Hall. "It was a great address, delivered in an easy but earnest manner. He touched the hearts and carried conviction to the judgement of the deeply interested listeners by his force and clearness. He was repeatedly applauded, and as he closed the sympathetic audience gave three rousing cheers for Abraham Lincoln."

The people of Wisconsin revered the president who brought about great change in the United States and took note of the special contributions of the little known state of Wisconsin. When Lincoln spoke at the State Fair in Milwaukee in September of 1959, he addressed the issues that most concerned the people of the day: slavery, labor laws, and agriculture. He understood that the people of Wisconsin were at heart a people concerned with the land, and tailored his speeches as such. He discussed free exchange of information about agricultural practices, "mutual exchange of agricultural discovery, information, and knowledge, so that, at the end, all may know everything"

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