Junior Docent School Program - Milwaukee Art Museum

American history, America‟s expansion, its new opportunities, and its need to adapt to
changes.
Wisconsin became known as a progressive state, and soon a Progressive political party
emerged calling for honest government, economic reform, public morality, and
democracy. Most of all, the party opposed bossism and the corrupt alliance between big
business and government. Robert LaFollette, Sr. became the leader of this movement
that grew out of agrarian protest. LaFollette went to Washington, D.C. in 1885 as a
congressman where he continued to fight for laws providing better working conditions for
common people, efficient government, and the use of specialized experts in running the
state. “Fightin‟ Bob” carried on a war against the special privilege system so inherent in
political parties. He was elected governor of Wisconsin in 1900, and was a U.S. senator
from 1906-1925.
World War I (1914-1918), which LaFollette opposed, was not opposed by most
Wisconsin residents. Wisconsin National Guardsmen in the Thirty-second or Red Arrow
Division gained a reputation for fearless fighting. This division was called “Les Terribles”
by the French because they fought so well. What were the dates of World War I? Were
your grandparents or great grandparents involved?
In society, changes involved two big movements, one was called prohibition and the
other was called woman suffrage. What do these two terms mean? Both involved
amendments to the Constitution. Which one was passed and then repealed?
The Great Depression brought hard times to Wisconsin. The stock market crashed in
1929 and millions lost their savings. What does it mean to be out of work? In Milwaukee
one in five people needed some kind of help or relief given by the county government.
Pressure was put on the national government for further relief and the government under
President Franklin Roosevelt responded by establishing public works projects that gave
us many of our city parks as well as new roads, schools, and even sewer systems.
Artists also were helped with a special program, the Federal Art Project, which was part
of the W.P.A. (Works Project Administration). Through this government program, their
art works were permanently displayed in many public buildings. The W.P.A. provided
funds for manual laborers as well as scholars. Wisconsin under Governor Philip
LaFollette was the first state to pass an unemployment insurance act, one later copied
by other states and the federal government.
In 1939 World War II began in Europe. When did the United States enter World War II?
After Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941. Defense contracts for all the
goods needed to fight a war brought jobs and prosperity to Wisconsin. What Wisconsin
cities became ship builders? Manitowoc, Sturgeon Bay, and Superior. The Wisconsin
National Guard became part of the U.S. military and was named the new Red Arrow or
32 nd Division. It distinguished itself in defeating the Japanese in the South Pacific.
Outstanding leaders from Wisconsin were General Douglas MacArthur, Fleet Admiral
William D. Leahy, and flying ace Richard Bong who downed forty enemy planes. What
place was named after Bong?
Artist Title Location
Bokelmann, Christian L. The Broken Bank Main Level
Brown, Roger At Red Bay Waiting for the City of Miami Main Level
Guglielmi, Louis The Christening Main Level
© 2011 Milwaukee Art Museum 700 N. Art Museum Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53202
JDSP – Docent Packet
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