History of Ohio

The history of Ohio as a state began when the Northwest Territory was divided in 1800, and the remainder reorganized for admission to the union on March 1, 1803, as the 17th state of the United States. The recorded history of Ohio began in the late 17th century when French explorers from Canada reached the Ohio River, from which the "Ohio Country" took its name. Before that, Native Americans had inhabited Ohio and the central midwestern United States for hundreds of years.

By the mid-18th century, American and French fur traders engaged historic Native American tribes in present-day Ohio in the fur trade. American settlement in the Ohio Country came after the American Revolutionary War and the formation of the United States. Ohio's population increased rapidly after United States victory in the Northwest Indian Wars brought peace to the Ohio frontier.

After the Civil War, Ohio developed as a major industrial state. Ships traveled the Great Lakes to deliver iron ore and other products. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fast-growing industries created jobs that employed hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Europe.

In the late 20th century, economic restructuring in steel and other heavy manufacturing cost the state many jobs. The economy in the 21st century has gradually shifted to depend on service industries such as medicine and education.

Precontact Indigenous history

Main article: Prehistory of Ohio

People have lived in Ohio for a very long time. Fossils show that hunters were there as early as 11,700 years ago, using stone tools to hunt big animals like Jefferson's ground sloth. Later groups built big earthworks, like huge mounds and circles, for important ceremonies and to mark special places.

Many different cultures lived in Ohio over the centuries. Some of the well-known groups include the Adena, Hopewell, and Fort Ancient. The Hopewell built very large earthworks, some of which are still standing today. They used these places for important events and as special observatories to watch the stars. These early people traded with others far away, reaching as far as the Atlantic coast, Kansas City, and Louisiana.

When Europeans arrived, many Native American tribes lived in Ohio. These included the Erie, Whittlesey, Mascouten, Miami, and Mosopelea, among others. However, wars and diseases brought by Europeans changed everything quickly. Most of these tribes were either driven away or disappeared before Europeans could learn much more about them.

Beaver Wars

Main article: Beaver Wars

In the 1600s, battles over fur trade led to big conflicts called the Beaver Wars. The Iroquois Confederacy, living in what is now New York, fought against many tribes in the Ohio area. They used newer weapons from traders, which made the fights very fierce. Many tribes were moved or disappeared because of these wars.

The wars changed the map of tribes in eastern North America. After the wars, the French and their allies took control of much of the land, leading to more conflicts between European countries and Native American tribes.

Dunmore's War

After the wars between the French and British, one last war happened before the American Revolution. This was called Dunmore's War. It was fought between American settlers from Virginia and the Shawnee tribe. The settlers said the Shawnee were stealing cattle, but later it was found they may have made up the story to start a war. Two Shawnee leaders, Chief Logan and Chief Cornstalk, were deeply affected by the violence of this time.

European colonization (1663–1787)

Main article: Ohio Country

New France

In the 1600s, the French were the first modern Europeans to explore what became known as Ohio Country. In 1663, it became part of New France, a royal province of the French Empire, and northeastern Ohio was further explored by Robert La Salle in 1669.

During the 1700s, the French set up trading posts to control the fur trade in the region, linked to their settlements in present-day Canada and what they called the Illinois Country along the Mississippi River. Fort Miami on the site of present-day St. Joseph, Michigan was constructed in 1680 by New France Governor-General Louis de Buade de Frontenac. They built Fort Sandoské by 1750 (and perhaps a fortified trading post at Junundat in 1754).

By the 1730s, pressure from expanding European colonies on the Atlantic coast caused several groups of Native Americans to move to the Ohio Country. From the east, the Delaware and Shawnee arrived, and Wyandot and Ottawa from the north. The Miami lived in what is now western Ohio. The Mingo formed from Iroquois who moved west into the Ohio lands, along with some members of other tribes.

Christopher Gist was one of the first English-speaking explorers to travel through and write about the Ohio Country in 1749. When British traders such as George Croghan started to trade in the Ohio Country, the French and their allies drove them out. In 1752 the French raided the Miami Indian town of Pickawillany (modern Piqua, Ohio). The French began military occupation of the Ohio Valley in 1753.

French and Indian War

By the middle of the 1700s, British traders were competing with French traders in the area. They had persuaded many former Dutch residents of the now conquered New Netherland colony to move into eastern Ohio. They had taken over a trading post called Loramie's Fort, which the French attacked from Canada in 1752, renaming it for a Frenchman named Loramie and establishing a trading post there. In the early 1750s George Washington was sent to the Ohio Country by the Ohio Company to survey, and the fight for control of the territory sparked the French and Indian War. It was in the Ohio Country where George Washington lost the Battle of Fort Necessity to Louis Coulon de Villiers in 1754, and the following year the Battle of the Monongahela to Charles Michel de Langlade and Jean-Daniel Dumas. The Treaty of Paris gave the country to Great Britain in 1763. During this period the Ohio Country saw much fighting between the region's Indian tribes.

Before the American Revolution, Britain had loose control over Ohio Country due to small garrisons in the former French forts. Just beyond Ohio Country was the great Miami capital of Kekionga, which became a center of British trade and influence in Ohio Country and throughout the future Northwest Territory. By the Royal Proclamation of 1763, Britain forbade settlement west of Appalachia by Anglo-American colonists. The Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768 set aside lands north and west of the Ohio as Indian lands. British policies in the region helped start Pontiac's War in 1763. Ohio Indians took part in that war until a British expedition in Ohio led by Colonel Henry Bouquet brought about a truce. Another expedition into the Ohio Country in 1774 ended Lord Dunmore's War. Lord Dunmore built Fort Gower on the Hocking River in 1774. In 1774, Britain passed the Quebec Act that formally added Ohio and other western lands to the Province of Quebec to organize the Montreal-based fur trade and centralize administration. The ban on settlement west of the Appalachians remained, helping cause the American Revolution.

American Revolution

As a result of the actions of George Rogers Clark in 1778, the Ohio Country (including the territory of the future state of Ohio) as well as eastern Illinois Country, became Illinois County, Virginia, by claim of conquest under the Virginia colonial charter. The county was dissolved in 1782 and given to the United States.

Early in the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress signed the Treaty of Fort Pitt with the Lenape. This treaty should have guaranteed that all Native lands of Ohio, except for the Western Reserve, would become a state under control of the Native peoples who lived there, in return for their support of the patriot cause. However, poor communication led to the Ohio Natives not responding properly. The Continental Congress assumed they wanted no part in the union and wanted to keep their own sovereignty. Therefore, the treaty was never carried out and many of Ohio's Native peoples were left confused about who to support during the war, leading to their people being harmed by both sides.

American colonial frontiersmen often did not tell apart between friendly and unfriendly Indians. One of the sad events of the war was the killing of many Christian people by US militiamen from Pennsylvania on March 8, 1782, at the Moravian Christian missionary village of Gnadenhutten, Ohio. With the American victory in the Revolutionary War, the British gave Ohio and its territory in the West as far as the Mississippi River to the new nation. Between 1784 and 1789, the states of Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut gave their earlier land claims in Ohio Country to Congress, but Virginia and Connecticut kept some areas. These areas were known as the Virginia Military District and Connecticut Western Reserve.

Northwest Territory and statehood (1787–1803)

Rufus Putnam played an important role in the early history of the United States. He helped create the Northwest Ordinance, which opened the Northwest Territory for settlers. This land included what would become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. The territory was set aside as free land, meaning no slavery would be allowed there.

In 1788, Putnam and a group of settlers founded Marietta, Ohio, as the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory. Many people from New England moved to Ohio, seeking new land to farm. They traveled by wagon, stagecoach, or even by river. Native American tribes resisted these settlements, leading to conflicts known as the Northwest Indian War. Eventually, the United States gained control of much of Ohio through treaties with the Native Americans.

Statehood and early years (1803–1838)

Ohio started its journey as a state in 1803. In December 1801, when Ohio's population reached 45,000, Congress decided it was growing fast enough to become a state. The Enabling Act of 1802 set out the steps for Ohio to join the United States. People in Ohio met to create a government plan, using ideas from other states and deciding not to allow slavery.

On February 19, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson approved Ohio's boundaries and government plan. But Ohio wasn’t officially a state until March 1, 1803, when the state’s first government met in Chillicothe, Ohio. Ohio had three capitals: Chillicothe, Zanesville, and finally Columbus, which became the capital in 1816 because it was in the middle of the state.

When Ohio became a state, its laws did not allow slavery. Many people in Ohio were against slavery and joined groups like the American Anti-Slavery Society and the American Colonization Society. The northeast part of Ohio was settled by people from Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. They were educated, open-minded, and often religious. Some early settlers were Amos Loveland and Jacob Russell. Life was tough in the wilderness, with many living in simple log cabins.

People from Germany also moved to Ohio, keeping their language, religion, and traditions. They settled in places like German Village in Columbus and other towns such as Gnadenhutten, Bergholz, New Bremen, New Berlin, and Dresden. These German settlers brought their own way of speaking, which still influences some areas of Ohio today.

During this time, Ohio was mostly a place for farming, but there were also mills and small factories. Life for women was busy; they took care of homes, children, and farms while men focused on farming and public matters. Women also formed neighborhood groups, often centered around their churches, where they shared tips and helped each other.

Starting around 1809, Shawnee leader Tecumseh tried to unite Native American tribes to resist American expansion. This led to conflicts, including during the War of 1812 when British forces joined some Shawnee fighters in Ohio. Key battles included the Battle of Lake Erie, where American naval leader Oliver Hazard Perry won an important victory near South Bass Island.

In the 1820s, new roads and canals helped connect Ohio to other parts of the country, boosting trade and travel. Ohio also saw the start of many newspapers that spoke out against slavery, and the state played a role in helping enslaved people escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

In 1835, Ohio and the Michigan Territory argued over land called the Toledo Strip, known as the Toledo War. Only one person was hurt. Later, Michigan gave up the land but received part of the Upper Peninsula in return.

The first railroad in Ohio opened in 1836, connecting Toledo to Adrian, Michigan. By the 1840s, Ohio had many different religious groups living together peacefully, including Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Jews, and others. Education became important, and Ohio started public schools to ensure all children could learn.

Civil War era (1838–1865)

Main articles: Underground Railroad in Ohio and Ohio in the American Civil War

See also: List of Ohio Civil War units, Cincinnati in the Civil War, and Cleveland in the Civil War

During the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, Ohio was very important. It helped provide soldiers, leaders, and supplies for the Union army. Because of its central location and growing population, Ohio played a big role in supporting the war effort. Even though many leaders in Ohio supported the Union, some people in southern parts of the state disagreed with President Lincoln’s policies.

Ohio was also an important place for the Underground Railroad before and during the war. Many people who had escaped from places where they were treated unfairly found safe routes through Ohio to reach freedom in the North.

Ohio sent nearly 320,000 soldiers to fight for the Union, and many of them were led by famous generals like Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and Philip Sheridan, all from Ohio. Sadly, many soldiers from Ohio were hurt or lost their lives during the war.

The state had important places related to the war, like Johnson’s Island, where many soldiers from the opposing side were kept safe. There were also places like Camp Chase Prison in Columbus.

After the war, Ohio continued to support its veterans. Organizations like the Grand Army of the Republic helped veterans and their communities. Ohio also created homes to support veterans who needed help, and it provided financial aid and free college education for veterans of many wars.

Industrialization and urbanization (1865–1890)

Between Abraham Lincoln and Herbert Hoover, Ohio became an important place for presidents. Many leaders came from Ohio, including Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Benjamin Harrison. This happened because Ohio was a mix of different parts of the country, making it a good training ground for leaders.

During this time, Ohio grew quickly with new factories and industries. Steel production became very important, especially in cities like Cleveland and Youngstown. Other industries, like making tobacco, farming tools, and carriages, also grew. Cleveland even became a big place for oil and chemicals, with companies like Standard Oil and Dow Chemical Company starting there.

Ohio’s natural resources, like coal and iron, helped it become a center for industry. By the early 1900s, Ohio had many railroads connecting its factories and mines. New kinds of entertainment also appeared, such as baseball teams and amusement parks. Companies like Procter & Gamble and Owens-Illinois began making everyday products that people still use today.

Progressive era and Roaring Twenties (1890–1929)

Ohio grew quickly during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Its population more than doubled from 2.3 million in 1860 to 4.2 million by 1900. By 1920, nine cities in Ohio had over 50,000 people.

The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, built their first airplane, the Wright Flyer, in Dayton, Ohio. They made their first successful flights in North Carolina in 1903. Many people from different parts of the world moved to Ohio for jobs, especially in factories and mines. This brought new cultures to the state, like the Forty-Easters in Cincinnati and Irish families in Columbus.

Ohio was an important place during a time called the Progressive Era. Leaders worked to make government more fair and stop big companies from being too powerful. In 1912, Ohio changed its rules to let people vote directly on some laws.

The Roaring Twenties brought big changes, including new dance styles like swing. Some people broke the law to sell alcohol, which was not allowed at the time. This caused problems, but many groups that tried to control these issues lost power by the mid-1920s.

Great Depression, World War II and the Cold War (1929–1999)

Ohio faced tough times during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Many people lost their jobs, and the state supported Franklin D. Roosevelt and his efforts to create new jobs through the New Deal. By the 1940s, the economy began to improve.

During World War II, Ohio helped supply important resources and materials for the war effort. The state played a key role in manufacturing military equipment. After the war, Ohio became very concerned about communism during the Cold War. The state was also important for space exploration, with John Glenn becoming the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962 and Neil Armstrong walking on the Moon in 1969.

Ohio contributed to American culture through music, film, and art. In 1995, the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland, celebrating the state's rich musical history.

History since 2000

Since 2000, Ohio's economy faced big changes. Many factories closed, leading to the loss of over 300,000 jobs, but the state gained more than 1,000,000 jobs in other areas. To help, the state government supported new industries like solar energy and electric vehicles. In 2002, Governor Bob Taft started the "Third Frontier" program to grow technology in Ohio.

Ohio sent many soldiers to wars in the Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq. It was an important state in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. After the Great Recession in 2007-2008, Ohio lost many jobs and saw a big rise in foreclosures. By 2010, the state began to recover and grow again. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Ohio, which affected jobs and led to stimulus spending. In 2023, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.