History Question: If the South could not secede

[CAPNCRUNCH]

If the South could not secede from the U.S., how could West Virginia secede from Virginia?

 

[Woody0]

Because the original 13 states did not want to lose power to the newer States so it was politically expedient, to get more Senators. The Carolinas split in 1729.

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/regions/westva.html

 

[Woody0]

Hmm, because West Virginia was politically underrepresented.

 

[CAPNCRUNCH]

Because the original 13 states did not want to lose power to the newer States so it was politically expedient, to get more Senators. The Carolinas split in 1729.

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/regions/westva.html

Thank you Woody for the information on the break-up. I still don't understand how it was/is legal to secede from a state. I remember reading something about a city in New Hampshire seceeding to Maine, I think. (Or attempting to seceede). Did the Civil War play a part in W.Va's statehood, and if so, how?:toast:

 

[bulldog77]

When Virginia seceded(or attempted to secede from the Union) at start of civil war, the counties in the western part of the state decided to stay loyal to the United States and not secede. This was due to the fact that there were no plantations and very few slaves in those counties due to mountainous terrain.
The people there saw no reason to die to defend a plantation system whose 'benefits' from they didn't share . Hence, West Virginia was formed in 1863.

 

[CAPNCRUNCH]

When Virginia seceded(or attempted to secede from the Union) at start of civil war, the counties in the western part of the state decided to stay loyal to the United States and not secede. This was due to the fact that there were no plantations and very few slaves in those counties due to mountainous terrain.
The people there saw no reason to die to defend a plantation system whose 'benefits' from they didn't share . Hence, West Virginia was formed in 1863.

Thank you bulldog! I understand the why of it , I just dont understand the legality and if or when or how it could be done again!:toast:

 

[bulldog77]

I guess I don't have an answer to your question other than in times of war(especially a civil war) they can modify the rules as necessary to keep things together like Lincoln did by suspending writs of habeous corpus and the premature entry of Nevada into the union as well. The federal government suspended their own rules as to when a territory can become a state to allow Nevada in in 1864 because they wanted the silver and the electoral votes for Lincoln's reelection. They chose to ignore(or changed by fiat) the minimum population requirement that Nevada fell far below of at the time in order to get them through.
Excellent question.

 

[CAPNCRUNCH]

I guess I don't have an answer to your question other than in times of war(especially a civil war) they can modify the rules as necessary to keep things together like Lincoln did by suspending writs of habeous corpus and the premature entry of Nevada into the union as well. The federal government suspended their own rules as to when a territory can become a state to allow Nevada in in 1864 because they wanted the silver and the electoral votes for Lincoln's reelection. They chose to ignore(or changed by fiat) the minimum population requirement that Nevada fell far below of at the time in order to get them through.
Excellent question.

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! W says we're at war , so dont give him any ideas! (Sorry, cheap shot-but not that far-fetched).:toast:

 

[Woody0]

Secesssion is essentially the right to self-determination. The US seceeded from British rule. The right to self determination depends upon the willingness of the pre-existing goverment or it's inability to act to prevent secession.

 

[Marco]

All good answers, but you're all clueless....

The mountain rednecks wanted a state of thier own, thus West Virginia was born.

 

[DrunkenHorseplayer]

West Virginia didn't secede from Virginia; they simply declined to secede from the Union while Virginia decided to.

 

[CAPNCRUNCH]

West Virginia didn't secede from Virginia; they simply declined to secede from the Union while Virginia decided to.

So what happened to Tennessee, Maryland, and Texas? How come we dont have partitions there as well? So, where are these laws that allow a state to secede if in disagreement with another part of a state in rebellion?:toast:

 

[Jointpleasure]

The Indians formed Indian Reservations. They have no senators but have still manage to steal American taxpaying dollars.

 

[CAPNCRUNCH]

The Indians formed Indian Reservations. They have no senators but have still manage to steal American taxpaying dollars.

They're finally getting even with their casinos, it's about time!arty: