sanza13's review
5.0
This book provided such a fantastic read that I could not put it down. Finishing it in under two days. This research based book provides and in-depth look into how and why West Virginia became the 35th State and the long legal battle that ensued with Virginia over the validity of it. This work is easily approachable for those not used to academic writing but provides a great understanding of the source material and leaves the reader satisfied.
ewp11577's review
5.0
I had known that West Virginia's founding as a state was controversial, just not THIS much of a problem. For whatever reason, I do not recall the then-mandatory (as in, when I was in 8th grade an eon ago) West Virginia History class teaching all of the chicanery involved in creating the 35th state of the union. Heck, I had long though that Virginia was largely indifferent to West Virginia's leaving, but have been proven wrong in this wonderful, wonderful book.
Truly, for Civil War buffs or US History folks, beyond even my fellow native West Virginians, this is a very fast-paced read on what had to be done to create a new state out of another one, even one in rebellion. Lincoln had his qualms, his cabinet was equally divided, senators were against it, it took some doing, but on June 20, 1863, it became reality.
Then it went to court. A bunch. I will not spoil all of it here, but suffice to say WV won, but the nature of it all was amusing.
Truly, for Civil War buffs or US History folks, beyond even my fellow native West Virginians, this is a very fast-paced read on what had to be done to create a new state out of another one, even one in rebellion. Lincoln had his qualms, his cabinet was equally divided, senators were against it, it took some doing, but on June 20, 1863, it became reality.
Then it went to court. A bunch. I will not spoil all of it here, but suffice to say WV won, but the nature of it all was amusing.
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