Wisconsin's Lynching History: 1861-1875

Abstract

In the span of fourteen years, between 1861 and 1875, a total of eight lynchings took place in Wisconsin. Of the eight individuals who were lynched, all were men; one African American, one Native American and the remaining whites. Based on the ethnicity of the victims one can surmise the lynchings that took place during this period were not solely based on the race of the victim: the six lynchings of white men were carried out by fellow whites. The existing literature and research on lynchings focuses primarily on the southern United States. It has not been until recently that historians have begun to shift their focus to other regions. This thesis examines the lynchings that took place in this fourteen-year period in Wisconsin history specifically comparing the circumstances of each event to other regions of the Midwest and South. The research analyzes the ethnicity, ethnic culture, people and environments to answer the question: is Wisconsin lynching history unique?