From O-Y-O to Ohio, From Territory to Statehood

Click here to download this study guide.

This progran is designed to teach students about the early Ohio frontier and the struggles involved in becoming a state. The program is about one hour in length. Students will help me tell the story. I will need to meet with the students involved for about 30 minutes before the program to direct them in their parts. Parts are enclosed with this study guide. The student audience will also become Federalists and Democratic-Republicans and cheer for their side in the debates.

I will play the part of Governor Arthur St. Clair and lead the students through the story of the early Ohio frontier. We will start with St. Clair's personal history. I will explain how and why the Ohio Company came to Congress to buy Ohio land. We will discuss who owned the land. I will explain why the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 had to be written and discuss the important parts of the law. Moving to Ohio, we will try to make peace with the Indians. Failing that, I will tell the story of Harmar's and St. Clair's defeats and the importance of the Battle of Fallen Timbers and the Treaty of Greenville. Finally we will discuss the problems of governing the new territory as more and more settlers moved to Ohio. Students will act out the debates that created a new state.

The study guides include brief histories of important men involved in the wars and politics of the Northwest Territory. These may be used to help prepare the students for the performance.

The Federalist Party During the Presidency of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton created the Federalist Party. He believed in strong national governement. He believed educated men could better govern the new nation. Educated men could interpret the constitution to allow the government to do what ever it needed to do in the best interest of the country. This interest was determined by educated, land-owning businessmen who would rule America. Many of the Federalists were ex-officers in the Continental Army. They believed they had fought for freedom and had the right to determine the new rules of the country. Hamilton liked the English model and thought only the most deserving should rule. Governor St. Clair was a federalist.

The Democratic-Republican Party Thomas Jefferson disagreed with Hamilton and created his own party. Having just fought against an English King, Democratic-Republicans feared a strong central government. They believed that the Constitution was a "strict" document that clearly limited the powers of government. Thomas Jefferson particularly liked the farmers and wanted to create an America that could be the breadbasket of the world. He felt the farmers could sell their goods overseas and buy the manufactured goods they needed. They should own their own farms and be able to make their own laws. The Democratic-Republicans believed in the common man.

The two big questions in the Ohio country that had to be answered were:
1. Who owned the land?
2. Who would make the rules for the land?

For more information log on to www.ohiokids.org

Suggestions of how to prepare the students for this program.

Have the students use current maps of Ohio to locate the following sites may help them become familiar with the cities, battle sites and Indian tribes that will be discussed.

Marietta - Cincinnati - Columbia - Manchester - Chillicothe - North Bend

Ft. Hamilton (Hamilton), Ft. Jefferson, Ft. St. Clair (Eaton), Ft. Recovery, Ft. Defiance (Defiance), Battle of Fallen Timbers, Treaty of Greenville Western Reserve, Symmes Purchase (land between the Miami Rivers below Dayton) Seven Ranges (Eastern Ohio), Virginia Military Lands (Along the Scioto, Chillicothe)

Shawnee Indians -- villages at Chillicothe, Xenia, Springfield, Piqua Miami Indians -- along Great Miami River and Maumee Rivers (both from tribal name) Wyandot Indians -- North of Columbus Ohio along Olentangy River Delaware -- eastern Ohio near Newcomerstown along Tuscarawas River Mingo -- Beaver Creek near East Liverpool

Have the students identify all of the Ohio counties named after Indian tribes. Here are a few. Can you find more? How about Indian words or Generals too?

Huron, Ottawa, Erie, Miami, Delaware, Wyandot, Seneca, Muskingum, Tuscarawas, Pickaway, Scioto, Cuyahoga Generals -- Wayne, Greene, Hamilton, Butler, Clark, Mercer, Shelby, Putnam

Advanced -- A review of the Ordinance of 1787 and conditions under the Articles of Confederation which led to the Constitution of the United States would be helpful.