Seceding from Secession

In "Seceding from Secession: The Civil War, Politics, and the Creation of West Virginia," authors Eric J. Wittenberg, Edmund A. Sargus, and Penny L. Barrick explore the complex social, legal, military, and political factors that led to the formation of West Virginia as the Union’s 35th state in 1863. The narrative highlights President Abraham Lincoln's significant involvement, reflecting on his constitutional concerns and the polling of his cabinet before finalizing the state's creation. The book also delves into the pivotal 1871 Supreme Court decision, Virginia v. West Virginia, which further examined the legality of this historical moment.