1. On March 19, 1854, the Wisconsin State Senate approved the creation of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The university, which opened in 1848, is now one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the United States.

2. On March 19, 1866, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that the small town of Portage had been hit by a devastating tornado. The tornado destroyed more than 50 homes and businesses, and killed 21 people.

3. On March 19, 1915, the Wisconsin Legislature passed the nation's first workers' compensation law. The law required employers to provide medical and financial support to employees who were injured on the job.

4. On March 19, 1931, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that women had the right to serve on juries. The ruling paved the way for women to participate more fully in the state's legal system.

5. On March 19, 1953, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy gave his famous "Enemies from Within" speech in Wheeling, West Virginia. The speech, in which McCarthy claimed that the federal government was infiltrated by communists, launched the senator into the national spotlight and led to a period of political turmoil known as the "Red Scare".