History of the United States I / Unit 15 USH1 2114 short lesson, about 20 seconds
West Virginia
Captions available
The idea
Northern and western Virginia rejected secession and separated, entering the Union as the free state of West Virginia in eighteen sixty-three.
In practice
The rest of Virginia, including Jamestown and Williamsburg, joining the Confederacy.
Where people slip
That decision brought Robert E. Lee with it, and it placed Washington perilously close to Confederate territory for the whole war.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for History of the United States I