# Why wasn't West Virginia returned to Virginia after the Civil War?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-west-virginia-returned-to-virginia-after-the-civil-war/513874>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 15, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-west-virginia-returned-to-virginia-after-the-civil-war/513874 "2009-10-15T05:27:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-west-virginia-returned-to-virginia-after-the-civil-war/513874/61 "2009-10-19T03:32:43Z")

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> [@jtgain](#):
>
> It’s a hell of a state. Great people and a great place to live. Unfortunately, the political mindset seems to have stopped in 1934. They are still fighting the mine wars and soaking the rich man. So, no rich people would dream of moving there. And the working people don’t have jobs as a result.

I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting West Virginia and did not mean to dis it. It was just that this student had the grades and the ability to get into some pretty top schools in the US. I didn’t want him to throw that chance away.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-west-virginia-returned-to-virginia-after-the-civil-war/513874/62 "2009-10-19T05:44:05Z")

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> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#):
>
> You could _make_ that argument, but it’s a weak one. One imagines that the “consent of the Congress” required by Article IV Section 3 needs to be a little more specific than a blanket grant that a state can split any way it wants at any future time..

Note that they also have carved states out of what was the greatest extent of Texas. So, even if it was allowed, its over.

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**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-west-virginia-returned-to-virginia-after-the-civil-war/513874/63 "2009-10-19T13:55:59Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Note that they also have carved states out of what was the greatest extent of Texas. So, even if it was allowed, its over.

No, it isn’t. The [Boundary Act of 1850](http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/ssc/primary_resources/pdf/texas/Texas_New_Mexico_Boundary_Act.pdf), which stripped Texas down to its current bounaries, included the following language:

> [@](#):
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> Provided, That nothing herein containted shall be construed to impair or qualify anything contained in the 3rd article of the 2nd section of the “Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States”, approved March 1, 1845, either as regards the number of states that may hereafter be formed out of the State of Texas, or otherwise.

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