Why did West Virginia separate from Virginia?

McGruff

West Virginia has the unique distinction of attaining its statehood due directly to the turmoil of the Civil War. Formerly the western section of Virginia, this region possesses geographical, economic, and settlement patterns which have always set it apart from its eastern neighbors. Issues involving political apportionment, internal improvements, and slavery exacerbated these differences in the decades preceding the conflict. When Virginia opted to secede from the Union in early 1861, leaders primarily from the northwestern region of the state began the process which eventually led to the creation of the new state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. http://www.shepherd.edu/gtmcweb/cwdbase.htm Like many of the citizens who lived in the mountainous western and northern counties of Virginia, these men had felt 'abandoned' when the Old Dominion, Virginia, voted to secede from the Union. They saw no good reason to break up the Republic over the abstract ideas that the politicians were arguing over. And, many of these people felt more of a kinship with their neighbors on the Ohio and Pennsylvania borders, than to the affluent farmers of the Virginia tidewater areas. So, the Virginia counties in the west decided that if their state could decide to secede over their protests, then they themselves would secede from Virginia and form their own new state. 1861 - Counties of western Virginia refused to secede with Virginia and created the Restored Government of Virginia in Wheeling. 1861 - Battle of Philippi - first land battle of the Civil War. 1863 - On January 1, President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in areas of rebellion, but did not apply to states loyal to the Union, including the future state of West Virginia. 1863 - West Virginia became the 35th state (June 20). Mar 10 02, 10:57 PM

McG

1863 - On July 15, the governor of West Virginia approved an act giving African-Americans the same rights to criminal trial as whites. However, Blacks were denied the right to serve on a jury. 1863 - On December 9, the governor approved an act forbidding residency of any slave who entered the state after June 20, 1863. 1865 - On February 3, the governor approved an act abolishing slavery, providing the immediate emancipation of all slaves. http://www.callwva.com/facts/dates.cfm Mar 10 02, 11:00 PM

meals

West Virginia didn't approve of slavery (Virginia held the HQ for the Confederacy at Richmond, so they were for it) and the Virginians who disapproved of slavery broke off and became West Virginia. Mar 11 02, 12:46 PM

McG

Slavery was actually a minor issue in the formation of West Virginia. It was largely economic. The western, mountainous part of the state had little voice in the government of Virginia and felt their needs were not being met. Few West Virginians owned slaves, as the terrain does not lend itself to the large plantations prevalent in the Tidewater region at the time. This site gives a brief, but fairly comprehensive history. http://www.travelwv.net/ Mar 11 02, 2:54 PM

kid_adams

It should be noted that West Virginia's independence and statehood had little to do with slavery, state's rights or any other social/political angst, but rather had to do with industry. West Virginia was home to numerous industries that served the "industrial north" and which would have crumbled under economic sanctions imposed by the north on the south. In fact, slavery was legal in West Virginia until abolition. Mar 29 08, 12:44 PM

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