enrichmentenrichment

By: Lola P.By: Lola P.

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““People, people, We are a United State. People, people, We are a United State. We must work together for the good of our We must work together for the good of our country. Without hard work and country. Without hard work and cooperation we are nothing but a silly old cooperation we are nothing but a silly old country full of nothing but trash.” said country full of nothing but trash.” said Marissa Youngblood Marissa Youngblood

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The Ohio territory's population grew The Ohio territory's population grew steadily in the 1790s and early 19th steadily in the 1790s and early 19th century. Congress passed an enabling bill century. Congress passed an enabling bill to establish a new state, which President to establish a new state, which President Thomas Jefferson signed into law on April Thomas Jefferson signed into law on April 30, 1802. 30, 1802.

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By law, Ohio voters are asked every By law, Ohio voters are asked every twenty years whether a new constitutional twenty years whether a new constitutional convention should be called. In the early convention should be called. In the early decades of statehood, it became clear that decades of statehood, it became clear that the General Assembly was the General Assembly was disproportionately powerful as compared disproportionately powerful as compared to the executive and judicial branches. to the executive and judicial branches.

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Much of state business was conducted Much of state business was conducted through private bills, and partisan through private bills, and partisan squabbling greatly reduced the ability of squabbling greatly reduced the ability of state government to do its work. state government to do its work.

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The legislature widely came to be The legislature widely came to be perceived as corrupt, subsidizing private perceived as corrupt, subsidizing private companies and granting special privileges companies and granting special privileges in corporate charters. in corporate charters.

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State debt also exploded between 1825 and State debt also exploded between 1825 and 1840. A new constitution, greatly redressing the 1840. A new constitution, greatly redressing the check and balance of power, was drafted by a check and balance of power, was drafted by a convention in 1850-51, as directed by the voters, convention in 1850-51, as directed by the voters, and subsequently adopted in a statewide and subsequently adopted in a statewide referendum on June 17, 1851, taking effect on referendum on June 17, 1851, taking effect on September 1 of that year. This is the same September 1 of that year. This is the same constitution under which the state of Ohio constitution under which the state of Ohio operates. The later "constitutions" were viewed operates. The later "constitutions" were viewed as such, but in reality were large scale revisions.as such, but in reality were large scale revisions.

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A constitutional convention in 1873, chaired by A constitutional convention in 1873, chaired by future chief justice of the united states Morison R future chief justice of the united states Morison R Waite, proposed a new constitution that would Waite, proposed a new constitution that would have provided for annual sessions of the have provided for annual sessions of the legislature, a veto for the governor which could legislature, a veto for the governor which could be overridden by a three-fifths vote of each be overridden by a three-fifths vote of each house, establishment of state circuit court , house, establishment of state circuit court , eligibility of women for election to school boards, eligibility of women for election to school boards, and restrictions on municipal debt. It was and restrictions on municipal debt. It was soundly defeated by the voters in August 1873.soundly defeated by the voters in August 1873.

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In the Progressive Era, pent-up demand In the Progressive Era, pent-up demand for reform led to the convening of another for reform led to the convening of another constitutional convention in 1912. constitutional convention in 1912.

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The delegates were generally progressive The delegates were generally progressive in their outlook, and noted Ohio historian in their outlook, and noted Ohio historian George W. Knepper wrote, "It was George W. Knepper wrote, "It was perhaps the ablest group ever assembled perhaps the ablest group ever assembled in Ohio to consider state affairs." in Ohio to consider state affairs."

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." Several national leaders addressed the ." Several national leaders addressed the convention, including President Willam convention, including President Willam Howard Taft, an Ohioan; former president Howard Taft, an Ohioan; former president (and bull moose Party candidate) (and bull moose Party candidate) Theodore Roosevelt; three-time Theodore Roosevelt; three-time presidential candidate Willam Jenning presidential candidate Willam Jenning Bryan; California's progressive governor Bryan; California's progressive governor

Hiram Johnson; and Ohio's own reform-Hiram Johnson; and Ohio's own reform-minded governor, Judson Harmon.minded governor, Judson Harmon.

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Recalling how the 1873 convention's work Recalling how the 1873 convention's work had all been for naught, the 1912 had all been for naught, the 1912 convention drafted and submitted to the convention drafted and submitted to the voters a series of amendments to the voters a series of amendments to the 1851 Constitution. 1851 Constitution.

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The amendments expanded the state's bill The amendments expanded the state's bill of rights, provided for voter-led initiative of rights, provided for voter-led initiative and referendum, established civil service and referendum, established civil service protections, and granted the governor a protections, and granted the governor a line-item veto in appropriation bills. line-item veto in appropriation bills.