effort to save what little was left of the great forests of Wisconsin. Fires had become rampant within the region, lives were being lost, and the government became determined to correct the situation. I have determined that the end point of my discussion will be the years leading up to World War II. For while the Great Depression brought about untold suffering for many, it was actually the giver of life for the Nicolet National Forest. People needed work, and the government was searching for ways to put them to work. Forming and nurturing the growth of a National Forest was the ideal answer for thousands. The years immediately proceeding World War II brought back economic security for many, and left a legacy of many industrial accomplishments as well as non-industrial accomplishments such as the Nicolet National Forest. In conclusion, the manner that I have chosen to write this paper was presented to me by my sources. Of the few sources that I was able to garner dealing solely with the Nicolet National Forest, each followed the same general outline. And, since importance was stressed upon these areas already by established historians, I felt that it should not be ignored. Early Exploration The first major exploration that bears particular relevance to the Nicolet National Forest begins with the exploits of James Cartier. A native of St. Malo, which lies in the north of France, Cartier is credited with the discovery of the river St. Lawrence and its gateway to the great lakes beyond. This, in turn, would open the door for expansion and the discovery of the entire Mississippi valley by Europeans. Charged to traverse the Atlantic and further the knowledge and holdings of France, Cartier set out with two ships for the coast of Newfoundland in April of 1534. Arriving safely, he immediately began to explore the area south of Newfoundland. By August, Cartier had discovered the great river waterway and sailed down ...
