Frenchman Jean Nicolet explored the area for the first time in 1624.

France gave the territory to Britain in 1763.

Well native americans lived in wisconsin first and then the france and british colonists came. they were the first europeans to live there. it legally became a state on May 29,1848. First known European to enter wisconsin was French Voyaguer Jean Nicolet.next major expedition into WI was Father Jacques Marguette and Louis Jolliet in 1673.Acquired WI in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Didnt excercise any control until the War of 1812. Americans and the British fought one battke in WI july 1814 Battle of Prairie du Chien. the british won but in 1815 the Treaty of Ghent reaffirmed American Jurisdiction over WI.