Existing comment:
Why Is There a West Virginia?
As early as 1829, some western Virginians hoped to secede from Virginia. They were underrepresented in Virginia's legislature, overtaxed, and shortchanged in state spending. In many counties, the rugged terrain made slavery impractical. Following Virginia's secession, leaders in many of the western counties organized to remain in the Union. In 1863, West Virginia became a state. |