Object, Document, and Image Reading and Study

Students will learn how to "read" objects, documents and images in order to learn about the past. They will develop observation and record keeping skills, and in a way similar to historians, will practice drawing conclusions based on their observations.

Whose History Is It?

As an introduction to this case history Ohio's Path to Statehood, most of the objects and documents will be grouped and presented at hands-on stations including the village tavern, the Chillicothe Capitol, and the map room. In cooperative groups, students will observe and make inferences about the grouped historical artifacts and documents. Students will have a set of six questions to guide their discussion and research related to each hands-on station.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 PDF

The Second Continental Congress passed the Ordinance in 1787, establishing the process for admission of new states to the United States. Under the provisions of this act, Ohio became the seventeenth state. Students will learn about the requirements of Northwest Ordinance and about its impact on rest of the United States. They will also learn about rights guaranteed by the ordinance.

A Conflict of Ideas Among Ohio's Leaders

Ohio's political leaders and parties debated whether or when Ohio should become a state. Students will gain an appreciation for the differences of opinion among these leaders of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties. While they held different views and had different plans, they all believed in a democratic solution. Students will observe differing political techniques.

The Enabling Act of 1802

In 1802, Congress passed an enabling act, which allowed people living in the Ohio Territory to write a constitution and form a government for the state. Students will examine the act, compare draft and final versions, and consider the impact of the various sections on the formation of a Democratic government.

The Branches of Government

The three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) and their responsibilities will be discussed in this lesson. During an introduction to the lesson, students will also be introduced to our government's Greco-Roman heritage. They will learn how it is expressed in symbols, terminology, and the physical structure of our government.

Who Should Have the Right to Vote?

Given the historical perspective of 1803, students will weigh both sides of the issue of land-ownership as a requirement for voting. Students will learn that the right to vote has evolved over time to include more citizens. They will come to learn of the importance of voting.

The U.S. and Ohio Constitutions

Students will examine the U. S. Constitution and Ohio Constitutions by comparing the framework of the governments, the rights guaranteed, and the various official positions. In doing so they will gain an understanding of the purpose and component parts of these constitutions. Students will expand their understanding of constitutions by creating their own constitutions that provide a framework for the government and will guarantee the rights of its citizens.

Thomas Worthington's Political Journeys

Students will examine a map that charts Thomas Worthington's various journeys between Chillicothe and Washington, D.C. to lobby for statehood, to submit the Ohio Constitution to the Congress of the United States, and as a United States Senator. They will pick one of these occasions and write a travel log in the first person, describing his thoughts about the recent events, weather, landscape, etc. he experienced along his journey.