OhioFormation, State Government, Constitution, and Miscellaneous Facts

Formation of Ohio

Ohio was once a part of the Northwest Territory

The Land Ordinance of 1785 The ordinance discussed how the government

would measure, divide, and distribute the land it had acquired from Great Britain at the end of the American Revolution.

The land was divided and put up for sale to settlers, because the government was having money problems due to the war.

Division of Land: divided into townships or city is 36 square miles, which were then divided into one-square mile. 

Each section received a number, and Section 16 was reserved only for public schools.

This was right in the middle of the town, so that all children could go to school and make it required.

How It Looks!

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 This was a means of states joining

the union through the admission process.

The government wanted to admit new states, instead of expanding the existing states. 

It includes the land in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois.

Requirements to have a population of at least

60,000 to have a governor, secretary, and

three judges To include a bill of rights a drafted states constitution

Ohio’s Journey to Statehood

Becoming a State

On February 19, 1803 Congress passed an act stating that the citizens of Ohio had adopted a constitution in accordance with the 1802 enabling act and the said state had become one of the United States of America.

The Ohio General Assembly met for the first time in Chillicothe on March 1, 1803, the date Ohioans now celebrate as Statehood Day.

State Capitals Chillicothe: 1803 -

1809 Zanesville: 1809 -

1812 Chillicothe: 1812 -

1816 Columbus: 1816 -

present

Ohio’s Constitutions*By law voters have the right to vote on whether or not to create a new constitution every 20 years

Constitution of 1802 Created in order for Ohio to become an

official state in the U.S.

Known as a “weak” document giving much of the power to the General Assembly (Ohio’s congress) and little to the judicial and executive branch

Replaced in 1851 with a new constitution

Constitution of 1851 Original constitution led to much corruption

throughout the state and through laws passed in the General Assembly

Convention to draft new constitution addressed the issue of checks and balances within the state government

New Constitution would evenly distribute power amongst the branches

Structure of the Ohio government currently follows this constitution

Constitution of 1912 Constitutional convention created a series of

amendments that were progressively based (trying to rid the government of corruption)

Did not create a new constitution but added 33 new amendments to the Ohio constitution.

*Amendments are not numerically labeled in the Ohio Constitution.

State GovernmentState has 3 branches of government

The Executive Branch Headed by Governor of Ohio

John Kasich Lieutenant Governor (like the VP)

Mary Taylor Secretary of State (elections,

business in Ohio, all records) Treasurer (in charge of the money) Auditor (watchdog for the state) Attorney General (state lawyer) State Board of Education (torturers)

U.S. Presidents from Ohio William Henry

Harrison Ulysses S. Grant Rutherford B.

Hayes James A. Garfield Benjamin Harrison William McKinley

William H. Taft Warren G. Harding

The Judicial Branch Three Levels in Ohio

Court of Common Pleas District Court System Ohio Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justices Must retire by age 70 Elected to 6-year terms

on a non-partisan ballot

The Legislative Branch Two House Congress—

called the General Assembly (it’s the 131st) Senators: 33 Representatives: 99

Meet at the State House (Executive Branch offices are on the first floor)

Miscellaneous Facts about Ohio

The Beginnings Name came from the

Iroquois word ohi-yo Means “great river”

or “large creek” Admitted in 1803 Considered a

Midwestern State Known as the

Buckeye State

Breakdown of Ohio 88 counties in Ohio

Ashtabula is Ohio’s largest county with 711 square miles

Lake is Ohio’s smallest county with 232 square miles Cities:

#1. Columbus – 787,033 #2. Cleveland – 396,815 #3. Cincinnati – 296,943 #4. Toledo – 287,208 #10. Lorain – 64,097 #14. Elyria – 54,533

Compared to Other States… 34th largest state in the United States 17th state admitted into the Union Ranked 7th among the 50 state in

population

Our Flag Accepted in 1902 The triangles formed on

the flag represent the hills and valleys

Stripes represent the roads and waterways

13 stars represent original 13 states in the Union

Circles represents the Northwest Territory

State Emblems State Bird

Cardinal State Flower

Carnation State Insect

Ladybug State Animal

White-tailed Deer State Tree

Buckeye State Rock Song

Hang on Sloopy

State Seal illustrates Ohio’s diverse

geography In the background stands Mount

Logan and the Scioto River In the freshly harvested wheat

field stands a wheat bushel and 17 arrows since we’re the 17th state in the Union

The sun has 13 rays protruding outward, representing the original 13 colonies.

Why Visit Ohio? Cedar Point Serpent Mound Lake Erie Ohio Stadium – the

“Horseshoe” Rock and Roll Hall

of Fame Kings Island