Robert B. Brownfield

Robert B. Brownfield

ED-639

Resource Unit

11/14/2007

Ohio History

Introduction:

This unit’s general theme is the history of Ohio, from prehistoric times to the present. The study will focus mainly on the time period from Ohio as a territory of the U.S. through Ohio’s recent past.

This unit will become a semester long elective course for high-school students. I will tentatively be teaching this class this coming July as a three-week summer school course at the school where I have signed a contract for next year. This elective course will be open to all 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, and will count for 1/2 credit of their required 3.0 credits of social studies (required by the school for graduation). This is a loose overview of the unit; it could be condensed into a few weeks of study during an integrated social studies course, or it could be stretched out into a complete semester course. I am planning for this unit to be completed in three weeks of summer school, where the class meets for four hours a day.

Standards:

This unit addresses the following NCSS standards:

II. Time, Continuity, and Change (most heavily)

III. People, Places, and Environments

IV. Power, Authority, and Governance

X. Civic Ideals and Practices

Content:

A. Summary of Subject Matter:

This unit will deal with the history of Ohio from pre-historic times to the present. It will begin by investigating the geography of Ohio, and then will connect this geography back to the history of the state. We will then discuss the ancient peoples who lived in the area northwest of the Ohio River. The unit will then explore colonial times, emphasizing colonist/Indian relations. The unit will focus in on the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and how they shaped the history of the region. The unit will then follow the Ohio region through early statehood (1803) and development, through the antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction periods, paying special attention to the local history of the Underground Railroad. The unit will then explore the turn of the century and how Ohio developed as a modern state as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The unit will conclude with an examination of Ohio in the 20th century and the dawn of the 21st and look towards the future of Ohio.

B. Concepts/Vocabulary:

Survey

Speculation

Portage

Squatter

Frontier

Land Ordinance

Northwest Ordinance

Gnadenhutten

Daniel Boone

Pontiac

Macadam

Canals

Gristmill

Conestoga wagons

Keelboats

Reaper

Threshing machine

Ohio and Erie Canal

Zane’s Trace

National Road

William Henry Harrison

Porkopolis

Robert Fulton

Circuit rider

Normal school

Subscription school

Temperance

Abolition

Underground Railroad

Utopian community

Wilberforce

Quakers

Shakers

Methodists

Black Laws

Fugitive Slave Law

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Stephen Foster

William Holmes McGuffey

Copperhead

War bond

Interurbans

Suburbs

Muckracker

Political machine

Modernism

G.I. Bill

Ohio Turnpike

Joe Nuxhall

WEWS

Coney Island

Agribusiness

Thomas Edison Program

Dayton Miller

Cleveland Playhouse

Cedar Point

General Assembly

Bicameral

Trustee

Ordinance

Statue

Constitution of 1851

Constitutional Convention of 1912

George Voinovich

Bob Taft

Ted Strickland

Public Utilities Commission

Columbus

County Seat

Objectives:

1. The students will become familiar with the geography of Ohio and how it has affected the development of the region.
2. The students will identify significant events in the history of Ohio and explain how these events fit in to the context of Ohio history.
3. The students will identify key legislation that helped to shape Ohio as a state, including the Land Ordinance and the Northwest Ordinance.
4. The students will explain the effects of the Civil War on Ohio.
5. The students will explain the modernization of Ohio, including the effect of the Industrial Revolution.
6. The students will examine the recent history of Ohio and will make predictions about the future of the state.

These objectives align mainly with the NCSS standard of Time, Continuity, and Change, as this standard is the main focus of this Ohio history unit.

Introduction to the Lesson:

On the first day of class, the teacher will discuss with the students what they know about the history of their very own state. This will serve as an informal pre-assessment. The teacher will lead the discussion and as it progresses, will interject specific concepts and ideas that are closely related to Ohio history to see if the students recognize them. The teacher may also wish to have the students draw on their knowledge of Ohio history (all the way back from 4th grade, when it is now taught) and write a quick overview (about 1 page long) of what they can remember.

Lesson Plans:

1. Students will visit a local Indian historical site, such as Sunwatch Village in Dayton. There are man possible sites in the state of Ohio, including sites with Indian burial mounds. The teacher can then discuss with the students the various features of pre-historic life in Ohio and how Ohio’s natural environment greatly affected Native American life in many ways.
2. Students will be assigned the historical fiction novel Blue Jacket: War Chief of the Shawnees by Allen Eckert. Students will read this novel and discuss with the teacher how this novel portrays the interactions between frontier life for Americans of European descent and Native American life.
3. Students will use string, measuring tools, and golf teas to survey a piece of land outdoors according to the specifications of the Northwest Ordinance. A large plot of land (measuring greater than 50 feet by 50 feet) should be secured by the teacher. Then students will measure and portion off the land into ranges and townships, using the string to divide it and the golf teas to keep the sting in place. Students can then discuss the difficulties the surveyors must have encountered when working in the Northwest Territory and discuss the features of Northwest Ordinance and the Land Ordinance.
4. Students (either individually or in groups or as a whole class) will make detailed maps that outline early transportation routes in Ohio, including roads (Zane’s Trace, the National Road), Canals (The Ohio and Erie Canal, The Miami and Erie Canal), and Rail Road Routes. Students can then discuss the development of these forms of transportation and how they influenced Ohio’s economy and history. Students can then use Google Maps to investigate current day transportation routes in Ohio. (Technology Rich Component).
5. Students will work together to create newsletters or circulars about the Underground Railroad (imitating the format of abolitionist newsletters/circulars). Students will then use a page layout program on the computer to design and publish these newsletters. (Technology Rich Component).
6. Students will use the Internet to research current-day sites of interest in Ohio and will plan tentative trips to go visit them, including the preparation of an itinerary and budget. (Technology Rich Component).
7. The teacher will present a Power Point presentation on the industrialization of Ohio and how different types of manufacturing developed in the region after the Industrial Revolution. Students will then be asked to relate this information back to what they know about present-day manufacturing in Ohio. (Technology Rich Component).

Culminating Activities:

Students will choose a region of Ohio to report on. Students will research the individual local history of the region (i.e. Wright Brothers in Dayton, Rubber Industry in Akron, Steel Industry in Cleveland, and so on) and relate this back to the geography of the region. Students will present their in-depth regional focus reports to the class on the last day of the unit. (Technology Rich Component).

Teacher References:

1. Ohio: The History of a People by Andrew R.L. Cayton

Cayton does a splendid job of tracking the development of Ohio and Ohioans and, very much to his credit, he exhibits a wide range of personal profiles rather than just rehash the notables like astronauts and Presidents. Also to his credit he brings to light the nature of the times with greater candor and less "political correctness" than many academic authors these days, and that proves of immense interest. (Taken from Amazon.com)

1. Ohio and It’s People by George W. Knepper

A major, full-length, one-volume history of the Buckeye State. Knepper shows that Ohio has not been dominated by one set of factors over others. Rather its history is that of the most "middle" of the midwestern states. Knepper provides admirable balance in this model state history, beginning with prehistory and ending in the late 1980s. There is sufficient anecdote to make it interesting popular reading and enough detail and interpretation to satisfy a scholar's need for a historical synthesis. With no footnotes, few illustrations, and a ten-page book-only bibliography, it is suitable for high schools and above. Walter Havighurst's Ohio: A Bicentennial History (LJ 5/15/77), a more superficial work, and E.H. Roseboom and F.P. Weisenberger's History of Ohio (1953; Ohio Historical Soc., 1969. rev. ed.), are the only comparable works. Essential for Ohio libraries, and highly recommended for libraries in neighboring states and large public and academic libraries. - Patrick J. Brunet, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., La Crosse (Taken from Amazon.com)

1. Ohio: A History by Walter Havighurst

Ringing hammers, swinging cranes, the hot breath of furnaces and the gush of molten metal, a skyline ringed with belching smokestacks--the energy of industry, both in manufacturing and in old-fashioned human diligence, has fueled Ohio since its earliest history as the first state in the Northwest Territory.

From Harvey Firestone's rubber rims for buggy wheels to John Leon Bennet's wire flyswatter, from O. C. Barber's first book matches to Dr. Edwin Beeman's flavored chewing gum, Ohio has buzzed with inventive drive and creativity. The Wright brothers flew a winged crate over a Dayton cow pasture; Stephen Foster allegedly wrote "Oh Susanna" while working as a bookkeeper in a Cincinnati riverfront shipping office; and Ohio native Victoria Claflin Woodhull declared herself the first woman presidential candidate. The state also produced some of the Civil War's greatest leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman.

Havighurst gives a moving portrayal of Welsh inventor Samuel Milton Jones, who made his fortune with a device used in oil production and then turned his energies to creating his own "new deal" for his factory workers and, as mayor of Toledo, for his constituency. At the other end of the scale, shrewd, autocratic George B. Cox ruled Cincinnati through a sticky web of back-room corruption.

Focusing on the people who stamped the state with their vision, Havighurst captures the vibrancy and ingenuity of Ohio's inventors, manufacturers, leaders and dreamers, as well as the consequences, for the land and its inhabitants, of unchecked industrial excesses.

1. The Ohio Frontier: Crucible of the Old Northwest, 1720-1830 by Douglas Hurt

Hurt has fashioned a vivid panorama of the transitional years when Ohio evolved from a raw frontier territory to an established province of an ever-expanding nation. As the buffer zone separating the colonized East and the uninhabited and unexplored West, Ohio afforded limitless social, economic, and political opportunities for daring and eager adventurers migrating from the eastern seaboard. Unfortunately, this dramatic demographic shift provoked a violent cultural and military clash between Native Americans and white settlers. The formulation and implementation of a harsh Indian policy that inevitably resulted in the removal and relocation of the Native American population from the territory enabled the newcomers to forge a comfortable and prosperous society rooted in agriculture and industry. Compelling regional history. (Taken from Amazon.com)

1. Big Ohio Activity Book by Carole Marsh

This is a teacher’s resource book containing worksheets and other activities for the study of Ohio. While most of these activities are geared towards younger learners, they can be easily adapted to the high school level by increasing their depth or by changing their focus slightly.

Student References:

1. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson (fiction piece)

Library Journal praised this edition of Sherwood Anderson's famed short stories as "the finest edition of this seminal work available." Reconstructed to be as close to the original text as possible, Winesburg, Ohio depicts the strange, secret lives of the inhabitants of a small town. In "Hands," Wing Biddlebaum tries to hide the tale of his banishment from a Pennsylvania town, a tale represented by his hands. In "Adventure," lonely Alice Hindman impulsively walks naked into the night rain. Threaded through the stories is the viewpoint of George Willard, the young newspaper reporter who, like his creator, stands witness to the dark and despairing dealings of a community of isolated people.

1. Strange Tales from Ohio by Neil Zurcher

Neil Zurcher has reported on unusual travel destinations for Fox8 TV for more than 20 years. His popular “One Tank Trip” reports are the longest-running local travel segment on television. He also writes regularly for AAA Ohio Motorist magazine and is the author of three other books: Neil Zurcher’s Favorite One Tank Trips, More of Neil Zurcher’s One Tank Trips, and One Tank Trips Road Food. All have been local bestsellers. Zurcher received the Distinguished Service award from the Society of Professional Journalism and the “Silver Circle” award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Former governor of Ohio George Voinovich called him “One of the most respected and knowledgeable travel writers in the state.”

1. Ohio Oddities by Neil Zurcher

OHIO—a bland and ordinary Midwestern state, right? Ha! You must never get off the highway. The Buckeye State has no shortage of strange, silly, goofy, quirky, eccentric, and just plain weird people, places, and things—if you know where to look. And no one has looked in more places for Ohio’s oddities than Neil Zurcher, the popular Fox8 TV travel reporter who makes his living on the road seeking out unusual destinations. This book collects the most remarkable things he’s found in and about the Buckeye State.

1. Ohio Archaeology by Bradley T. Lepper

Ohio's rich archaeological heritage has captivated generations of scholars and scientists. Yet, archaeologists over the past few decades have made new discoveries that are revolutionizing out understanding of these American Indian cultures and their achievements.

Ohio Archaeology chronicles these landmark discoveries in a book written by Dr. Bradley T. Lepper, Curator of Archaeology of the Ohio Historical Society. Dr. Lepper presents this fascinating story in six, chronological chapters based on the major archaeological periods. With top regional scholars contributing 28 feature articles, Ohio Archaeology also looks at the state's early archaeological history.

Written in an engaging and understandable style, this epochal story is beautifully illustrated with over 340 photographs, original artworks, maps, timelines and graphics.

Ohio Archaeology is a valuable resource for readers, teachers and students who want to learn more about the lifeways and legacies of the first Ohioans.

The Ohio Archaeology book is one of four components to the Ohio Archaeology project, a collaborative initiative led by Voyageur Media Group, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of public media about science, history and culture. The Ohio Archaeology project includes the development of this companion book, the "Ancient Ohio" art series and a companion website for the delivery of educational materials. (Taken from Amazon.com)

1. B is for Buckeye: An Ohio Alphabet by Marcia Schonberg

Did you know that Ohio is called "The Mother of Presidents" for the eight United States Presidents born there? Or, that 23 astronauts -- the most of any state -- are from Ohio? These and more amazing facts are revealed in B is for Buckeye, a must-have for every Ohioan (from Ulysses S. Grant to John Glenn)! Brilliant illustrations by Bruce Langton and fascinating text by Marcia Schonberg bring Ohio history and information to life in the second of Sleeping Bear Press' state alphabet books. (Taken from Amazon.com)

6. The Bounty Lands by William Donahue Ellis (Historical Fiction)

This historical novel tells the story of young Tom Woodbridge who migrates from Concord, Massachusetts, to "Mesopotamia" in the Northwest Territory in 1799 with two fixed purposes--to secure a land grant for his father's military bounty warrant and to raise pedigreed pigs. Mesopotamia is described as a private land purchase in the United States Military Tract near the Greenville Treaty Line, and its proprietor is Elnathan Shuldane, a shrewd and influential New England speculator who is selling lands for bounty warrants and runs into difficulties with Woodbridge over land and pigs. He sends his daughter Veronica and his attorney, Jonathan Blair, to the new settlement to checkmate the rugged hero, but the latter turns the tables on Shuldane by getting Veronica to marry him after he has unwittingly compromised her--the most improbable incident in the book.