Black History of Wisconsin, Part 2: Breaking Chains SHARE This is part two of a four-part series exploring the history and struggles Black Wisconsinites have endured. MILWAUKEE — As the 19th century rolled around, Wisconsin was just figuring out its future. Well, technically, Wisconsin wasn’t Wisconsin yet — it was a chunk of land handed over to the brand-new United States. American settlers, including Black residents, were starting to flow into the future Badger state, seeking out land or opportunity. These new residents would grapple with questions of freedom and abolition, civil rights and political power. Here, we take a look at how Black Wisconsinites navigated the 19th century in their young state — and the lasting, sometimes contradictory, effects of the era.