Impact of the Creation of the State of West Virginia

 

Impact of the Creation of the State of West Virginia

The creation of the state of West Virginia had a significant impact on the region, both during the Civil War and in the years that followed.

During the Civil War

• It helped to keep the western counties of Virginia in the Union. At the start of the war, Virginia seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. However, many people in the western counties of Virginia opposed secession. They formed their own government, known as the Restored Government of Virginia, and petitioned the Union government to allow them to form a new state. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill admitting West Virginia to the Union.
• It weakened the Confederacy. The loss of West Virginia was a significant blow to the Confederacy. It deprived the South of important resources, such as coal and iron ore. It also made it more difficult for the Confederacy to move troops and supplies between the eastern and western theaters of the war.

After the Civil War

• It helped to promote economic development in the region. The new state government of West Virginia invested heavily in infrastructure, such as roads and railroads. This helped to attract new businesses and industries to the state.
• It helped to improve the lives of African Americans. The West Virginia constitution prohibited slavery and granted African Americans the right to vote. This made West Virginia one of the most progressive states in the country for African Americans in the years after the Civil War.
• It created a new identity for the people of West Virginia. Before the Civil War, the people of western Virginia were often referred to as "Virginians." However, the creation of West Virginia gave them a new sense of identity. They were now West Virginians, and they were proud of it.

Impact on Seventh Graders

The creation of the state of West Virginia is a significant event in American history that seventh graders should be aware of. It is a story of courage, determination, and the pursuit of freedom. It is also a story that shows how even small groups of people can make a big difference.

Test Questions

1. What year was West Virginia admitted to the Union?
2. Why did the western counties of Virginia secede from Virginia and form their own state?
3. How did the creation of West Virginia weaken the Confederacy?
4. What did the West Virginia constitution do for African Americans?
5. How did the creation of West Virginia create a new identity for the people of West Virginia?

Answers

1. 1863
2. The western counties of Virginia seceded from Virginia and formed their own state because they opposed secession from the Union.
3. The creation of West Virginia weakened the Confederacy by depriving it of important resources and making it more difficult to move troops and supplies between the eastern and western theaters of the war.
4. The West Virginia constitution prohibited slavery and granted African Americans the right to vote.
5. The creation of West Virginia created a new identity for the people of West Virginia by giving them a sense of pride in their own state.