Why didn't the Virginias Get Back Together? Documentary
video description
needless to say the bulk of West Virginia never wanted to be part of Virginia in the first place, they wanted to either join Pennsylvania, join what became the Ohio Territory, or be their own state/territory, mostly they seemed to want to wait it out and see how the territories changed and where the pushes for new states were happening and what its best options were.
when a large number of Virginians wanted to stay in the Union but got marginally outvoted, and nearly like 2/3 or 3/4 of the western section of greater Virginia wanted to stay with the Union, they voted to secede Virginia and be admitted as West Virginia and some people from eastern portion of Virginia fled to the western area to reinforce those numbers and those votes.
what i will never understand is why they kept the temporary name West Virginia and never came up with their own state name and why they were never allowed to join with Pennsylvania like was the predominant original plan for the area. could have greatly helped balance out the powers around Pennsylvania later on when the state couldnt grow anymore and kept getting drowned out in politics by Virginia New York and later even Ohio especially since Ohio territory later became like 3-4 states or something so it was very powerful as a territory.
Date: 2022-07-19
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Comments and reviews: 19
Obi-Juan
Even before the Civil War many counties in now WV wanted out due to lack of representation in Richmond. Virginia seceding gave them the argument to and the opportunity to break away.
By 1865, West Virginia volunteers had been serving in the Union armies for four years, mostly against Confederate armies chock full of Virginians. Blood had been spilled between the two.
In short, their was no desire on the part of West Virginians to reunite with Virginia. Virginia, in their eyes, had committed treason, and they had helped to put down that treason. Almost 3, 000 West Virginians had died in that endeavor. As far as most West Virginians were concerned, they were on the right side of the conflict and had no desire to submit themselves to the whims of their former tidewater brethren
Also, Virginia was one of the largest states in the US before the war, and taking off West Virginia crippled their power in the HoR and gave the North 2 more senators. The federal government wouldnt want to just hand that all back to the South after the war.
TLDR why
Politics and blood
reply
Even before the Civil War many counties in now WV wanted out due to lack of representation in Richmond. Virginia seceding gave them the argument to and the opportunity to break away.
By 1865, West Virginia volunteers had been serving in the Union armies for four years, mostly against Confederate armies chock full of Virginians. Blood had been spilled between the two.
In short, their was no desire on the part of West Virginians to reunite with Virginia. Virginia, in their eyes, had committed treason, and they had helped to put down that treason. Almost 3, 000 West Virginians had died in that endeavor. As far as most West Virginians were concerned, they were on the right side of the conflict and had no desire to submit themselves to the whims of their former tidewater brethren
Also, Virginia was one of the largest states in the US before the war, and taking off West Virginia crippled their power in the HoR and gave the North 2 more senators. The federal government wouldnt want to just hand that all back to the South after the war.
TLDR why
Politics and blood
reply
DTM88
Technically once we separated from Virginia! They basically became the outsiders like the rest of the country! We're only friendly to outsiders if they obey our laws and rules the state gave! Unless you trespass, damage, steal, etc! Then ur fare game to the west Virginians until or unless the law finds you first! Technically not all of that is completely true but the fact is we're like Texas! You just don't mess with Appalachians!
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Technically once we separated from Virginia! They basically became the outsiders like the rest of the country! We're only friendly to outsiders if they obey our laws and rules the state gave! Unless you trespass, damage, steal, etc! Then ur fare game to the west Virginians until or unless the law finds you first! Technically not all of that is completely true but the fact is we're like Texas! You just don't mess with Appalachians!
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Robin
After murdering thousands of Virginians that had wanted to be independent from the U. S, the U. S. that it was perfectly ok for part of Virginia to be independent from the rest of it. Rather fuzzy logic, to say the least. And, thus the United States sowed a century and a half of deep, implacable hatred in the breasts of millions that it wanted to impress to its bosom at gunpoint. Too bad. Too bad. Oh, too bad.
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After murdering thousands of Virginians that had wanted to be independent from the U. S, the U. S. that it was perfectly ok for part of Virginia to be independent from the rest of it. Rather fuzzy logic, to say the least. And, thus the United States sowed a century and a half of deep, implacable hatred in the breasts of millions that it wanted to impress to its bosom at gunpoint. Too bad. Too bad. Oh, too bad.
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MGTOW
Did West Virginia illegally (unconstitutionally) split from Virginia? If it didn't, why did the US allow this unconstitutional action into the Union.
Well, considering the fact the US invaded Canada (1812) and Mexico (1846) and the South (1860, etc, plus Lincoln violated a dozen (if not more) constitutional prohibitions, it's understandable.
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Did West Virginia illegally (unconstitutionally) split from Virginia? If it didn't, why did the US allow this unconstitutional action into the Union.
Well, considering the fact the US invaded Canada (1812) and Mexico (1846) and the South (1860, etc, plus Lincoln violated a dozen (if not more) constitutional prohibitions, it's understandable.
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scott
It was significantly more complicated than that. WV wanted out for a long time because they weren't being represented by Richmond. Their economy, politics and way of life was separated by a mountain range and the people in those mountains wanted nothing to do with being ruled over by people they had nothing in common with.
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It was significantly more complicated than that. WV wanted out for a long time because they weren't being represented by Richmond. Their economy, politics and way of life was separated by a mountain range and the people in those mountains wanted nothing to do with being ruled over by people they had nothing in common with.
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John
Forgot the part were WV had to pay like 8 million to normal Virginia as a result of the breakup and it took them until 1900ish to do so. (I know, I know, nothing like a Like and an ish for historical facts, but hey I'm not the one making awesome videos)
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Forgot the part were WV had to pay like 8 million to normal Virginia as a result of the breakup and it took them until 1900ish to do so. (I know, I know, nothing like a Like and an ish for historical facts, but hey I'm not the one making awesome videos)
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Chance
I've always found it funny how the confederate rebels to the authority of the United States often demanded legal protections from the very country whose authority and legitimacy they were rejecting, often while they were actively fighting it.
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I've always found it funny how the confederate rebels to the authority of the United States often demanded legal protections from the very country whose authority and legitimacy they were rejecting, often while they were actively fighting it.
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Conor
Hey West Virginia, you know how you left us, we think thats really unfair, so now that we stopped trying to leave the wider country, we think its only fair that you re-join us, even though we lost. Wouldnt you agree we have a leg to stand on?
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Hey West Virginia, you know how you left us, we think thats really unfair, so now that we stopped trying to leave the wider country, we think its only fair that you re-join us, even though we lost. Wouldnt you agree we have a leg to stand on?
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Advance
In 1965 I believe, there was a final dispute as to a boundary line settled in the area near Covington Va. it was at the top of a ridge. There were not many people there that day but I was. I was 7 at the time.
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In 1965 I believe, there was a final dispute as to a boundary line settled in the area near Covington Va. it was at the top of a ridge. There were not many people there that day but I was. I was 7 at the time.
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Atheist
Kanawha survives as a county near where I was born. Also, the wh sound is a single consonant, not pronounced as a separate w then h. Monongahela was also considered as a name. I like that one, personally.
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Kanawha survives as a county near where I was born. Also, the wh sound is a single consonant, not pronounced as a separate w then h. Monongahela was also considered as a name. I like that one, personally.
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Isabella
2: 46
you were rebelling, so shut up-priceless. shame that argument didnt stick for civil rights laws and amendments and reconstruction in general, would have saved over 150 years of problems since.
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2: 46
you were rebelling, so shut up-priceless. shame that argument didnt stick for civil rights laws and amendments and reconstruction in general, would have saved over 150 years of problems since.
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The
I think some of the counties were forced into West Virginia because of where the Baltimore & Ohio train tracks were laid. The federal gov't. wanted all the length of it in Union territory.
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I think some of the counties were forced into West Virginia because of where the Baltimore & Ohio train tracks were laid. The federal gov't. wanted all the length of it in Union territory.
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mbradley
I'm from Wisconsin. So, Yankee. I lived in Richmond for a year and a half. It took me a week to understand that Yankees are not welcome. West Virginia is well shot of those people.
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I'm from Wisconsin. So, Yankee. I lived in Richmond for a year and a half. It took me a week to understand that Yankees are not welcome. West Virginia is well shot of those people.
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ClodolC&Midnights
TLDR: if Virginia reunited, then we would lose West Virginia, and that means we might lose the song country roads and thats a risk that none of us want to take
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TLDR: if Virginia reunited, then we would lose West Virginia, and that means we might lose the song country roads and thats a risk that none of us want to take
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theskeptic2010
Virginia began breaking up before the Civil War. Kentucky was originally a county of Virginia, but became the 15th state in 1792, breaking away from Virginia.
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Virginia began breaking up before the Civil War. Kentucky was originally a county of Virginia, but became the 15th state in 1792, breaking away from Virginia.
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Robert
Humm, youre gonna be doing a video in a about 15yrs, explaining why California split itself into two separate states (northern Cali & southern Cali)
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Humm, youre gonna be doing a video in a about 15yrs, explaining why California split itself into two separate states (northern Cali & southern Cali)
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G.
I wish that there was a North and South Georgia so that way it would feel like you were accomplishing something while taking that long drive down I-75
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I wish that there was a North and South Georgia so that way it would feel like you were accomplishing something while taking that long drive down I-75
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HawkEye93
Just so you know, it's pronounced ka- NA-wah. I've heard all kinds of pronunciations, and it makes me cringe everytime. It's just weird
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Just so you know, it's pronounced ka- NA-wah. I've heard all kinds of pronunciations, and it makes me cringe everytime. It's just weird
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Tony
I'm not American but when I think of Virginia I think of The Waltons and when I think of West Virginia i think of John Denver. Shows my age.
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I'm not American but when I think of Virginia I think of The Waltons and when I think of West Virginia i think of John Denver. Shows my age.
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