Seceding from Secession: The Civil War, Politics, and the Creation of West Virginia

The book "Seceding from Secession: The Civil War, Politics, and the Creation of West Virginia" explores the social, legal, military, and political factors that led to the birth of the West Virginia in 1863. President Abraham Lincoln played a critical role in the creation of the new state, and the 1871 U.S. Supreme Court decision Virginia v. West Virginia discusses the constitutionality of the event. The book is grounded in a wide variety of sources and is an indispensable source for understanding the birth of the state.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 288 pages
\n Publication date: 15 November 2020
\n Publisher: Savas Beatie
\n

West Virginia, a state in the United States, was born out of a complex set of circumstances during the Civil War. According to early Mountaineer historian and Civil War veteran Maj. Theodore F. Lang, West Virginia was "the child of the storm." In 1863, the northwestern third of Virginia finally seceded from the Union to form the 35th state, West Virginia.

In their book "Seceding from Secession: The Civil War, Politics, and the Creation of West Virginia," authors Eric J. Wittenberg, Edmund A. Sargus, and Penny L. Barrick delve into the intricate social, legal, military, and political factors that led to the birth of this new state. President Abraham Lincoln, a skilled lawyer in his own right, played a crucial role in the creation of West Virginia. The constitutionality of the mechanism by which the new state would be formed was a concern for Lincoln, and he consulted with every member of his cabinet before signing the bill.

The book also includes a detailed discussion of the 1871 U.S. Supreme Court decision Virginia v. West Virginia, in which former Lincoln cabinet member Salmon Chase presided as chief justice over the court that decided the constitutionality of the momentous event. The decision was a significant milestone in the formation of West Virginia.

Seceding from Secession is based on a wide range of sources and is presented in a compelling manner. The book also features a brilliant Foreword by Frank J. Williams, former Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and Chairman Emeritus of the Lincoln Forum. Williams provides valuable insights into the convergence of military, political, social, and legal events that led to the birth of West Virginia.

This book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complex history and formation of West Virginia. It sheds light on the political, social, and legal factors that shaped the state's identity and provides a deeper understanding of the events that led to its creation.

\n Weight: 542g\n
Dimension: 236 x 159 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781611215069\n \n