Discovery Room 7: The Case for Statehood
Welcome to a replica of West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling. While some of our early statesmen “light up” to defend the territory’s reasons for requesting statehood and separation from Virginia, you’ll learn that slavery wasn’t the only issue for these leaders. Roads were neglected in the western region yet taxes were exorbitant. Wanting more say in the direction of their future was a major reason to enter the union.
The audio presentations that showcase the views of several statehood leaders are a popular feature in this discovery room. But you’ll want to be sure to check out the timeline of the statehood movement dating from the adoption of the Virginia State Constitution in 1776 to when West Virginia enters the union in 1863.
Video courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting; Videographer/Editor: Janet Kunicki; Narrator: Beth Vorhees
