How The Role Of Geography Has Affected Ohio's Growth And Development

844 Words4 Pages

After seven weeks of studying the history of Ohio I have gained extensive knowledge of the state. Not only has my understanding of the state’s history broadened, but my view of Ohio in general has been elevated. I’ve learned about how geography has affected Ohio’s growth and development, and also how Ohio has influenced the growth and development of the nation. Ohio has played a major role in our country socially, economically, and politically. The first student learning objective in the course was to be able to explain the role of geography in the growth and development of Ohio. In the state’s early years before it was even a state, the biggest obstacle in populating it was the Appalachian Mountains. This was the highest point east …show more content…

The United States began before Ohio, but I don’t know where the U.S. would be now without Ohio. It wasn’t long before settlers started looking to move West. Once settlers were living west of the Appalachians there was a need to create order like that of the original states. This Northwest territory lead to the Northwest Ordinance. Under this ordinance, Ohio became a state and served as an example for how every state after Ohio would enter the union. Jumping forward to the industrialization period of our country, in the first half of 19th century, growth of Ohio was greater than the growth of the nation. Ohio was and still is today central and of tremendous importance to the nation throughout preindustrial, industrial, and post-industrial periods. As Ohio moved in and out of these periods, so did the United States. From its early years, it seemed that wherever Ohio was going, the nation would soon follow. This occurred in may social, political, and economic issues. For example, Ohio wasn’t allowing immigrants from certain areas in the mid nineteenth century. Soon America had strict bans on immigrants. In the past these bans have not lasted. Ohio’s population that is representative of the nation and its central location make it the predictor of our nation’s future that it is