The American Civil War was a conflict fought between 1861 and 1865 that pitted the Union (northern) states against the Confederacy (southern) states. The war arose primarily over issues related to slavery.
In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed an act that admitted West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two. This move was controversial at the time, as Virginia was a Confederate state and West Virginia had seceded from Virginia to join the Union. Many people in the Confederacy saw the admission of West Virginia as a betrayal, as it effectively split the state in two and took away a significant portion of its territory and resources.
Despite the controversy, Lincoln saw the admission of West Virginia as a necessary step in the larger effort to preserve the Union. He believed that allowing West Virginia to join the Union would help to strengthen the Union cause and make it more difficult for the Confederacy to succeed.
The admission of West Virginia also had significant political implications. It helped to shift the balance of power in the United States Congress. This, in turn, helped to further the debate over the future of slavery during the Civil War.
In the end, the American Civil War resulted in the defeat of the Confederacy and the preservation of the Union. The admission of West Virginia played a small but significant role in this outcome, as it helped to further weaken the Confederacy and strengthen the Union’s position.
References:
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-what-everyone-should-know-about-civil-war
https://archive.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh24-4.html
https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/west-virginia
