I'm from West Virginia, and the number of people who say "Oh I know someone in Richmond! ” when I tell them is too damn high.

Thanks for taking the time to make the video. I found it very informative.

Thanks for all your work on these posts.. love howdie doodie in the background nice touch!

This is an interesting presentation of a relatively little known facet of American history, how West Virginia came into being. Unfortunately any reference to a seminal event is left out, which was Nat Turner's Rebellion in 1831. Virginians in all parts of the state were shocked and frightened, and they in their perplexity called into being a secret session of the Virginia Legislature. In that closed to the public session the legislature had a no hold barred debate where slavery in all of its aspects was debated. In fact for a time it almost appeared that a majority of legislators would favor some form of abolition combined with sending away forever from the state its Black population, so great was the fear aroused. As it turned out, slavery went on for another 34 years, but if it had been abolished in the 1830's in all of Virginia that event would definitely have changed the course of American history.

Cool stuff, I love history. The thumbnail pic of John Brown caught my eye. He was my 4x Great grandfather on my dad’s maternal side.

Great video. Very informative with great analysis

Most people don't realize how large a state Virginia really is. It's westernmost point, in the Cumberland Gap, is much west of West Virginia and as far west as Detroit !

I am a native West Virginian and your information is absolutely accurate; however, Steven Danis comment is also correct.

Very much enjoyed the history lesson.

This is a terrific presentation backed by a phenomenal amount of research. Thank you! @AscendWV @wvtourism

How about a video about the narrator kinda curious about him. I learned tad bit about the split between the 2 states in middle school. Knew little about the split but this video did an amazing job on actually giving more facts.

Some of the rural, conservative counties of Virginia who feel that the dominance of liberal Northern Virginia on Virginia politics have shut them out have expressed interest in merging with West Virginia. Many of us in Western Maryland would like to do the same.

Very thorough! Nice job!

Thank you this some information that I already have. But more importantly it gave me more information about something that I never thought about.

Excellent stuff bro

Thanks. Insightful history.

After see the " Free State of Jones, I started looking into how many confederates or southerners didn't like the CSA Government. It turns out A LOT. There were areas in NC, TN, Northern AL, MS that I have found. Not to mention they provide units who fought for the North. Southerners who were not happy with the CSA government seems to be the elephant in the room. The Confederate government strongly favored the planter class and the yeoman farmers were screwed

This video helps explain why the West Virginia and Baltimore accents sound so similar - because they've been closely trading and been in business with each other for a couple of centuries.

I'm a high school drop out and come from a family that's all from west Virginia and I've always watched @grunge and learn alot and feel really more proud of my background my family tree and anstestery..

My great Granddad Taylor Shrout was from Romney West Virginia and lived well pass 100 years old. When the Eternal flame was dedicated at Gettysburg all survivors of the war were invited (The exact date of this I do not remember) Well the old boys counted survivors and the score was just about even. When Taylor arrived they asked where he was from and he told them Romney West Virginia. The the Confederates got excited, excited that is until they learned he was a drummer boy for the Union Army. The split between the two states was a little jagged at best.

Very thorough and clearly explained.

Good job!

I was born and raised in WV (settled in VA after I got out of the Army) and I have been all over the US and parts of Canada and Mexico. I also traveled to several other countries while in the Army and I have never met anyone who didn't know that WV was a separate state. I think the confusion comes in when someone says they are from southern or south West Virginia. Virginians also refer to the Bristol area as southwest Virginia. South West Virginia vs. southwest Virginia. If you tell someone you are from south West Virginia they might be hearing southwest Virginia.

Cool video, schools in WV should show this to their students

Surprised there was no mention of the B&O Railroad. AS a reason the eastern panhandle was included with the western counties and guarded by the federal army.

Enjoyed the details and information. Including that native tribes 'ceaded' lands.

an interesting bit of US history but a bit too simplified and over-stated. The 5% did not own "Everything" despite having disproportionate power. You keep stating the East of Virginia, but the reality is the power center was Central Virginia. The eastern Tidewater area has brackish water and sandy soil, there is reason Jamestown and former colonial capitol Williamsburg were (partially) abandoned. Many of the families around Richmond were interrelated, went to school together, nepotism galore and mountain people were in double trouble because it was physically hard to move goods and information through there. Staunton, Virginia located in the Shenandoah Valley but physically close to West Virginia reportedly voted 3000-1 to support secession.

Interesting Collection of objects on the bookshelves. WV got their autonomy but the result wasn’t so great in the long run - a poorer section split away from potential help of the East. (If they could have overcome the Eastern discrimination of the West), In Florida history 1865-1970 the panhandle to Jacksonville took the lions share of road building and stuff at the expense of the peninsular section.

Why the music? It makes difficult to follow THE story..

East coast info. I b learning lots of interesting facts. Been 2 pitt alot. Met wv people 2 ther they migrated!

This is my first time seeing the announcer. I always just thought of him as a disembodied voice.

Lots of generalizations here that skew the story and reality. . The vote to secede was severely skewed by limitations on who could vote and requirements by the secessionist government for people to vote publicly meaning everyone knew where the stood. This severely limited voter turnout to less than 10% in some counties. While there were significant differences between the two main regions of Virginia, research shows most people did not want to be a part of this extreme movement. it was a smaller group of folks in power in the interim government who successfully abused voter rights to turn the tide their way. The real story here requires a deeper dive and you can let the voter regulations put in place and the voting records speak for themselves. I only discovered this a few years ago and my mind was blown and my understanding of the story completely altered. .

Very interesting video. I love history, and this is awesome! I knew West Virginia broke away from Virginia, but I never really knew why, other than the slavery issue. Today, it remains the only permanent secession.

Hi. Can I have the background music please. Thanks.

Thanks. Very interesting indeed. I live in between Richmond and Williamsburg, in New Kent. I have roots on my Mama's side in Richmond and prior to that along the fall line near NC. I recently learned about an ancestor before my maternal grandfather who was a Hawthorne. On my father's side, we have West Virginia and Tennessee roots. I hear occasional jokes. Go ahead. I joke about that too.

Before the Revolutionary War, my ancestor William Morris was the first permanent settler in present day Kanawha County. He & all 8 of his sons fought in the war. His descendants here in WV fought on both sides of the Civil War. I’ll never move away from here again.

It was Not "The separation of church and state", but "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."

As a West Virginian, I must say excellent work.

That kid statue thing behind him to the right of the screen creeps me out

My father and his family are all from God bless West by God Virginia. Some of the most beautiful country on God's green earth.

So I have to ask what did the native Americans call the area called Virginia?

Well done.

Southern West Virginia is a distinct cultural region. It identifies with a strong southern heritage and rather strong feelings about the Civil War.

Amazing.

Do a video on Fort McHenry

That classic painting of John Brown is so cool, I'm somewhat related to him.

How did they decide where to put the line to divide West Virginia from Virginia?

You should of opened, and closed the video, with John Denver's country road!

I’m curious about how the content that airs is chosen. Is it assigned or do the hosts choose their own topics ?

Fascinating. As a Texan, I never understood why US History was so complicated. To this day, West Virginia is more different that just about any state I have ever been to. I am surprised how beautiful it is, off the beaten-path. Other weird places I have been were the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I can tell you that most of Harris County in Texas is far different, than the rest of Texas. If Texas breaks apart, I hope Harris County goes its own way. It is the sh*thole of Texas.

A purely academic (and moot question), but, Is West Virginia constitutionally a state? The US Constitution requires that if a state is to be created from an existing state, that state must give its consent (Article IV, Section 3). The US did not recognize the Confederacy as a country, only regarding it as an insurrection. Therefore, wouldn't the VA state legislature's consent be required, as opposed to the consent of the" Restored Government of Virginia"?

Born and raised in Wytheville Virginia lived in Bluefield west va.

Hi Good Morning Day Everybody and Good Afternoon.

I had wondered about the difference between the two States.

You missed the strategic railroads located in what is now West Virginia. The “Irish Scottish” were really Scot’s Irish! Those points stated, you are mostly spot on. There are several illustrations of how little the tidewater cared. The best example is the obvious misspelling declaring Monongalia County on the Monongahela River, close enough for “government work “! Also, many of the slaves that were in western Virginia were household servants of the well to do and generally treated well unlike plantation workers. There were instances where these household servants were considered almost family. The Civil War was a convenient excuse!

You completely overlooked or ignored the political machinations of the Lincoln administration and the adding of 3 House seats and 2 Senatorial seats. These Senators and Representatives were sympathetic and supportive of Lincoln's policies and agenda for the country both during and post Civil War. WV became a state in 1863, Lincoln was not assassinated until 1865 and may have very well ran for and won re-election in 68 or his chosen successor versus Johnson or Grant. This basically would provide him a solid Republican Majority for the 38th Congress in 1863/1864 and solid support for the National Union Party in 64/65 for the 39th and subsequent Congresses.

A good point made was West Virginia broke away from the "powdered wigs Virginia" for the same reason the English Colonies broke away from England, taxation without representation.

For a second I thought it was going to be Bigfoot from the thumbnail.

Background music is WAY too loud.

Around here (Charleston, Kanawha County), we’re West Virginians before we’re Americans. Do other Americans feel that way about their states?

First of all West Virginia did not “Break Away” from Virginia. It was granted statehood by the northern state allies after the south lost the Civil War. This was done as a punitive measure to Virginia.

I’ve always heard that after the Civil War, Virginia tried to get West Virginia back. I have not read anything about it. Anything to it?

Reverse pic from Kansas album cover “Wayward Son” is John Brown. Charles Manson’s motives, in stirring civil unrest, were much the same. 👍👍👍

THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS!!! THATS IMPORTANT!!

I am born & bred West “by God” Virginian. Tell me this; why is our cemetery’s full of Confederate graves and few Union ones? And my ancestors fought on the side of Virginia not the Union. I keep hearing that West Virginia wanted to break away but I don’t see it in my family and local history.

Virginia in 1863: Give us back West Virginia!!! Virginia in 2021: West Virginia? Never heard of it.

Failed to mention the railways and telegraph lines that Lincoln needed so badly. Also, Lincoln recognized the extreme importance of having another "union" state.

The reason they did not have slaves was 100% religious conviction.. im sorry this man is just flat out wrong.

Did they break away form Virginia, or Kentucky?

👍👍👍

So pawnee and eagleton are real huh

Barely a mention of the Scotch-Irish

Another reason West Virginia was allowed to succeed was the fact that the Lincoln administration absolutely did NOT want the Ohio river to be the border of the Confederacy and the United States. I live about 4 miles from West Virginias independence Hall in Wheeling WV .

West Virginia...almost heaven!

West by God Virginia

Harpers ferry was put down by lee

Nobody could blame them

Soooo, how did West Virginia finally succeed from Virginia?

Damn English always muddying up the water...lol

The "separation of church and state "??? This is a foriegn concept to our founding documents.

Allegheny mountain range? Dude it's the Appalachian mountain range. You just lost credibility with me.

The mountains of the early united states were very divided. The remaining Cherokee tribe, those that were not ethnically cleansed under Andrew Jackson were led by Will Thomas on behalf of the confederacy against the union. Very complicated...

They have places named Lynchburg. I think I'll avoid Va period whether it's west or not.

Geographic, cultural and economic differences pretty much describe California.

Lumber was the major economic commodity, utilizing very few slaves. Only the extremely rich owned slaves, similar to modern day Mexico with their Cartel plantations. After America finally ended the 7000 year scourge of slavery (began in Africa according to Sumarian clay tablets), many former slaves took up this industry and later generations still continue in this lucrative business. The Union soldiers at the polls ensuring victory with bayonets concerns me. I'm glad we won, but that's not the way.

West Virginia is the best virginia even more so these days if you look how outrageous virginia is now.

Happy Birthday West Virginia!

Unfortunately not much has changed.

The northern most Southern state and the southern most Northern state.

Nowdays border West Virginian counties were proconfederate and the Union government gave to West Virginia as a present. Greenbrier county had 12.7% slaves, here the touristic industrial used slaves. Kanawa county had 13,7% slaves here the salt mines used slaves. The most Proconfederate counties were in West Virginia: Mercier more than 75% confederat soldiers recruitments (5.3% slaves), 50-75% confederate soldiers recruitsments: Monroe (10.5% slaves), Greenbrier (12.7% slaves), Pocahontas (6.4% slaves), Kanawa (13.7% slaves), Logan (3.0% slaves), Pendleton (4.0% slaves), Whyoming (2.2% slaves), Jefferson (28.2% slaves), Roane (1.3% slaves) and Gilmer (1.4% slaves). The most prounionist counties 100-90% prounionist soldiers recruiments : Hancock (0% slaves and this county almost voted Abraham Lincoln!), Brooks (0.3% slaves), Ohio (0.4% slaves), Marshall (0.2% slaves), Monongalia (0.8% slaves), Preston (0.5% slaves), Wetzel (0.1% slaves), Morgan (2.5% slaves), Tucker (1.4% slaves), Upshur (2.9% slaves), Ryler (0.3% slaves), Doddridge (0.7% slaves), Taylor (1.5% slaves), Ritchie (0.6% slaves), Wood (1.6% slaves), Mason (4.2% slaves), Clay (1.2% slaves). Strong prounionist counties 89-75% prounionist soldiers recruinments: Cabell (3.8% slaves), Marion (0.5% slaves), Harrison (4.2% slaves), Lewis (2.9%), Barbour (1.1% slaves), Pleasants (0.5% slaves), Webster (0.2% slaves). The more conties were a little prounionist majority, but the proconfederate sentiment was storng minority.

Truth is, the history of this conflict includes Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Forks, as the Point in Pittsburgh is now known, was claimed by Virginia during the French and Indian War. After the Revolution, Virginia and Pennsylvania squabbled over who would own Pittsburgh. Virginia, which claimed the Ohio Country, lost out to the Philadelphia interests that wanted Pittsburgh. Notice the Northern Panhandle. It is amazing that the Confederacy, as it were, was 35 miles west of Pittsburgh and 66 or so miles from Cleveland. The Panhandle n ver had any ties to Richmond or Fairfax other than paper. Just a footnote...George Washington owned land in the town I live in, South Fayette. It's now a golf course.

Why the lame "music" Why does everyone think everyone else needs to hear music while doing everything

Your Confusing Scottish and Irish, and then English and British people.

As usual, money becomes the underlying reason.

??? No mention of East Virginia, located just east (well, duh) of the now existent Commonwealth of Virginia?

he sounds like he's going to forget the horror of slavery as recorded by a reporter on the issue

"it was a political issue not a moral one". "they weren't antislavery they were anti slave owner" a man desperately trying not to say the word class

First in this

Until 1792, “Western Virginia “ was Kentucky. 🙂

What !?. Aint Virginia and West Virginia the same state. Why not also East, South and North Virginia then.