This course explores Ohio’s social, cultural, political, economic, and artistic history from prehistory to the present. This course will illuminate national trends through the lens of local history. Topics include the diverse geography and topography of the state, the diversity of Indigenous peoples and their contributions to the region, the violent persecution and forced removal of Indigenous people, the history of racism and racial discrimination beginning with Ohio’s 1804 Black Laws, the establishment and development of rural and urban settlements, industrial development, development of transportation systems including canals, rail, and highways, contributions of and discrimination faced by white ethnic groups across time with a particular emphasis on Appalachian Ohioans, and German, Italian, and Latinx immigrants, the roles of women in Ohio politics, and the role of highways, suburbs, hospitals, and universities Ohio’s more recent development. Assignments in this course will be differentiated to serve the needs of both pre-service educators and students in other fields.
