"Gopher Train" illustration by Robert O. Sweeny made in opposition to a proposed amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution allowing the state to issue $5,000,0000 worth of bonds to assist railroad construction, 1857.
People in Minnesota have engaged in lively politics noted for a high level of citizen participation since the founding of the state in 1858 and long before. Often, they showed a willingness to use government to improve the state’s quality of life. Though Minnesota’s political parties have at times diverged from their national counterparts, they have produced leaders who made notable contributions to the nation.