How West Virginia became a state during the Civil War
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
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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.
Who led the Restored Government of Virginia, by map 1, Ari asks?
- Francis Pierpont
- President Abraham Lincoln
- Waitman Willey
- Arthur Boreman
What was the vote for the new state in October 1861, Bo asks?
- 781 to 18,408
- 88 to 55
- 28,321 to 572
- 18,408 to 781
By map 1, what share of voters took part in the 1861 vote, Esme asks?
- 3.4 percent
- 66 percent
- 39 percent
- 34 percent
When did West Virginia become a state, Jun asks?
- October 24, 1861
- December 31, 1862
- March 26, 1863
- June 20, 1863
What changed between map 1 and map 2, Kira asks?
- Voters turned down the Willey Amendment
- A proposed state became the 35th state
- Virginia joined back together as one state
- Kanawha became Virginia's capital
Who signed the statehood bill, Luz asks?
- The convention in Richmond
- President Lincoln
- Governor Pierpont
- Governor Boreman
Why did the Restored Government's consent matter, by the note, Milo asks?
- Voters had turned down the new state in 1861
- A state can't be split without its consent
- Lincoln needed Ohio's approval
- The name Kanawha needed approval
Why was the name Kanawha dropped, by the note, Noah asks?
- A county and two rivers had the name
- Voters chose the name in the vote of 1863
- Lincoln disliked the name
- Virginia owned the name
Which claim about statehood is careful, Tala asks?
- Lincoln made the state by himself
- The Richmond government asked for it
- Voters, conventions, Congress and Lincoln each had a part
- The state was formed without any vote
What was the Restored Government of Virginia, Zee asks?
- A committee of the US Congress
- West Virginia's first legislature, 1863
- A Union-loyal government set up at Wheeling
- The Confederate government in Richmond