How West Virginia became a state during the Civil War

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   A new state is made, 1861 to 1863

   Map 1, "The proposed state of Kanawha" (1861): June 1861: the Second Wheeling Convention sets up the Restored Government of Virginia, loyal to the Union, with Francis Pierpont as governor. October 24, 1861: voters in the 39 counties of the proposed state of Kanawha approve it, 18,408 to 781; turnout is only 34 percent. Map 2, "The state of West Virginia" (1863): December 31, 1862: President Lincoln signs the statehood bill. March 26, 1863: voters approve the revised constitution with the Willey Amendment, 28,321 to 572. June 20, 1863: West Virginia becomes the 35th state, with Arthur Boreman as its first governor. Key: a dashed line is the proposed state of 1861; a solid line is the state of 1863; a star is Wheeling, where the conventions met. Below the maps: The US Constitution says no new state may be formed within another state without that state's consent; the Restored Government gave Virginia's consent in May 1862. The convention dropped the name Kanawha, partly because a county and two rivers already had it.

2. 1.

   Who led the Restored Government of Virginia, by map 1, Ari asks?

   • President Abraham Lincoln
   • Waitman Willey
   • Francis Pierpont
   • Arthur Boreman
3. 2.

   What was the vote for the new state in October 1861, Bo asks?

   • 18,408 to 781
   • 88 to 55
   • 28,321 to 572
   • 781 to 18,408
4. 3.

   By map 1, what share of voters took part in the 1861 vote, Esme asks?

   • 34 percent
   • 3.4 percent
   • 39 percent
   • 66 percent
5. 4.

   When did West Virginia become a state, Jun asks?

   • March 26, 1863
   • December 31, 1862
   • October 24, 1861
   • June 20, 1863
6. 5.

   What changed between map 1 and map 2, Kira asks?

   • A proposed state became the 35th state
   • Kanawha became Virginia's capital
   • Voters turned down the Willey Amendment
   • Virginia joined back together as one state
7. 6.

   Who signed the statehood bill, Luz asks?

   • The convention in Richmond
   • Governor Pierpont
   • President Lincoln
   • Governor Boreman
8. 7.

   Why did the Restored Government's consent matter, by the note, Milo asks?

   • The name Kanawha needed approval
   • Voters had turned down the new state in 1861
   • Lincoln needed Ohio's approval
   • A state can't be split without its consent
9. 8.

   How many years passed from the 1861 vote to statehood, Pia asks?

   • 3,724 years
   • 1 year
   • 2 years
   • 12 years
10. 9.

    Which claim about statehood is careful, Tala asks?

    • Lincoln made the state by himself
    • The state was formed without any vote
    • The Richmond government asked for it
    • Voters, conventions, Congress and Lincoln each had a part
11. 10.

    What was the Restored Government of Virginia, Zee asks?

    • A Union-loyal government set up at Wheeling
    • West Virginia's first legislature, 1863
    • The Confederate government in Richmond
    • A committee of the US Congress