Why did West Virginia choose to become independent from Virginia?

Answer 1

West Virginia and Virginia separated because of the different thoughts of Slavery. Many people disagreed about Slavery this led to the start of the civil war. So, Virginia wanted to keep slavery and West Virginia wanted to abolish it so they both separated.If you have a question or comment or need more info. on VA History Contact sruthi1123@gmail.com.THANKS

Answer 2

As the Civil War approached, Virginia was considered a border state. It had voted three times NOT to secede. After South Carolina fired on Ft. Sumter on April 12, 1861, President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion in the South. Not wanting to be part of an invasion of the South, Virginia had another secession vote, and this time voted to secede. Only Alexandria, just south of the Potomac River from Washington, DC, and the Western counties of Virginia, cast their votes against secession. Lincoln created a second, shadow government of Virginia (the real one was no longer part of the Union). Once there was an agreeable Union government, the western part of Virginia voted to secede from Virginia and call itself "West" Virginia. It became a new state on June 20, 1863.

Answer 3

there was a dispute that occured in Virginia during the road to the civil war. The part of Virginia who did not agree with slavery broke away from Virginia and joined the union.Hope this helps :)

it was more about the right to sucssed from the union

Answer 4

The people of the Northwestern part of the state did not believe in slavery. Those in the Southeast did. So they made plans to secede from Virginia, forming their new state of West Virginia in 1863.

Answer 5

As thge other people said in the bottom heres it in simp-le words: when there was only one Virginia, west Virginia didnt want slavery so it split from the other part of Virginia to join the cunion to become west virgina in civil war time. the other half of Virginia joined the confedercy and is known as just Virginia

The Ruffner Pamphlet

In the West, most liked the idea of liberty and independence as outlined by Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. In the East slavery was more of an economic issue rather than a moral issue. Eastern Virginians defended slavery and bitterly attacked Western emancipationists. Henry Ruffner addressed the Franklin Society of Lexington in 1847. The address ended up being one of the most significant antislavery writings of the 1830s and 1840s. While his pamphlet found little support in the Valley, settlers in the Trans-Allegheny sections of the state favored the ideas Ruffner presented. This further separated the people of Virginia.

The Virginia convention of 1861

Of the 47 members of the Virginia convention that were from "West Virginia", 32 opposed withdrawal from the Union. The vote clearly showed a divide between East and West and the reality of dismemberment became clear to most delegates. There has always been a sense of turmoil in Virginia politics, between East and West. It seems the many laws being passed in Virginia originated and benefited the East. The West felt they were not being represented fairly in congress. Laws written based on the Eastern markets and infrastructure seemed to have an adverse effect on the settlements to the West.

The secession of South Carolina

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union after Lincoln's election in December of 1860. This prompted Virginia to call a special session of congress to address the rising crisis. Prominent leaders of Virginia began calling for secession. This further divided East and West because the West did not want to abandon what they thought was the best constitution ever written by some of the wisest and most patriotic of Americans.

The Raid at Harpers Ferry

After reading the Williams article on Brown's Raid, I think Harpers Ferry is very significant in both Virginia's secession from the Union, as well as, West Virginia's dismemberment. The raid really made everyone think about which side they were on. The Union was anti-slavery and Virginia was pro-slavery. The West liked the Union and didn't want to break away like the rest of the state. Brown's Raid while really small had had a huge impact. I think it helped unite the Confederacy and fuel the secession of Virginia. As a result of Virginia leaving the Union, the formation of West Virginia was expedited.

Answer 6

During the civil war, Virginia was a part of the Confederate states of America. Part of Virginia (West Virginia) remained loyal to the Union, so it broke off of Virginia and formed its own state.

Answer 7

There are several reasons why western Virginia wanted to secede from its eastern half. But, first, you have to look at the geography of the then-joined states. Mountains split it in two. And with the limited technology the people of the 1860s had, it was difficult to cross said mountains, so communications withing the two halves was difficult. The western half couldn't really send representatives to the state congress. So the eastern half kind of ignored the western half. And then the economies were different, with VA having large plantations and WV having smaller family farms. And VA made decisions WV didn't particularly like, and WV decided to separate. And I think that may be the jist of it. It's what I remember from my WV studies class from the 8th grade, at least.

Answer 8

West Virginia was once part of Virginia. When Virginia declared secession from the United States to become part of the Confederacy, the counties in northwestern Virginia voted to secede from Virginia and remain loyal to the United States. That area of Virginia became West Virginia. West Virginia became the 35th U.S. state on June 20, 1863.

Answer 9

Sectional differences as early as 1775 led West Virginians to want independence from Virginia. They wanted to form Westsylvania but were denied. West Virginians felt that the plantation owners of Virginia controlled everything and ignored their needs. The Civil War gave them that opportunity. Since most living in West Virginia did not have slaves, they did not feel they needed to fight to defend slavery.