A Civil War Podcast: Why Virginia Seceded, West Virginia Formed

Presently there is a 150th Anniversary called a Sesquicentennial of the Civil War ongoing that is supported by State governments for tourism as well as for American education.  West Virginia's Sesquicentennial website is here.  It is an excellent time (and very relevant to today) to reconsider this major event in American history which transformed America.

The link below will take you to an excellent podcast tracing weekly the events leading up to and including the so-called Civil War from a Longwood University professor in Virginia which is worth subscribing to. Every American should know the documented truth (not the politically-correct propaganda version) about this Great Conflict which cost the lives of over 620,000 Americans, more than all U.S. wars combined. History is absolutely essential for discovering our present context which puts and interprets current events in better light. The history of the Civil War teaches alot about the true nature of the present U.S. Federal Government, which changed entirely from this historic event, despite flying a similar flag. Every family, and school, could benefit from this short weekly podcast.

The Civil War was nothing less than another Revolution of Government (for that is what the Southern States declared in justification of their seceding) in which the northern section, and their principles, usurped and turned the Federal Government in Washington D.C. into a Central Power over the previously sovereign and independent states. Slavery was only part of the issue, which even Lincoln declared he had no right to abolish or outlaw when he took office (as the earlier podcasts prove), for the larger principles of Union and Liberty came into conflict, i.e. National Federalism vs. State's Rights. What is now called Big Government began here with a war waged by Washington D.C. against the States who formed her! Thus the Union was "saved" or reformed at gunpoint. To be brought back into a union by force most all will recognize as some form of tyranny instead of freedom. Ironically, those who opposed a centralized power in Washington were then the Democrats (back then Dixie-crats!), and it was Lincoln's radical (called "Red") Republicans who wanted to tyrannize the states, contrary to "Tea Partiers" today!

Nothing highlights more how the Federal Government changed than this podcast here since it includes the Secession of Virginia and the formation of West Virginia, which is obscured in the title. Virginia had voted against secession until President Lincoln tried to raise armies in the southern states to wage war against the states seceding. That changed everything, and Virginia seceded on April 17, 1961 (see Ordinance of Secession in previous post). Every West Virginian should know this and also read the State Cultural Center's archives on the formation of West Virginia, "An Illegal Act?" which is enlightening for a better understanding about both the U.S. government and this state's origins.

Secession in the Old Dominion, Violence in Baltimore | That a Nation Might Live

[Virginia Secedes and] Baltimore Riot

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300,000 German-Americans Designated "Enemy Aliens", Internment Camps During WWII

Actual German-American Internment Bus from WWII

photo taken April 18, 2011 at museum in Salem, VA

This video presents a short clip of history that most Americans know nothing about:  The Internment and/or Deportation of 300,000 German-Americans citizens during WWII, contrary to the Constitution.  Most have heard about Japanese Internment camps, but not this.

This video was taken recently upon a visit to Virginia where the museum in Salem was exhibiting this actual German-American Internment Bus.

150 Years Ago: Virginia Secedes From Union, Federal Government Perverted Its Powers

                Virginia Ordinance of Secession

April 17, 1861 Virgina Secession Convention approves the wording of a referendum of secession and calls for a popular vote to approve it.


AN ORDINANCE to repeal the ratification of the Constitution of the United State of America by the State of Virginia, and to resume all the rights and powers granted under said Constitution.

The people of Virginia in their ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America, adopted by them in convention on the twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, having declared that the powers granted under said Constitution were derived from the people of the United States and might be resumed whensoever the same should be perverted to their injury and oppression, and the Federal Government having perverted said powers not only to the injury of the people of Virginia, but to the oppression of the Southern slave-holding States:

Now, therefore, we, the people of Virginia, do declare and ordain, That the ordinance adopted by the people of this State in convention on the twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, and all acts of the General Assembly of this State ratifying and adopting amendments to said Constitution, are hereby repealed and abrogated; that the union between the State of Virginia and the other States under the Constitution aforesaid is hereby dissolved, and that the State of Virginia is in the full possession and exercise of all the rights of sovereignty which belong and appertain to a free and independent State.

And they do further declare, That said Constitution of the United States of America is no longer binding on any of the citizens of this State.

This ordinance shall take effect and be an act of this day, when ratified by a majority of the voter of the people of this State cast at a poll to be taken thereon on the fourth Thursday in May next, in pursuance of a schedule hereafter to be enacted.

Adopted by the convention of Virginia April 17,1861.

May 23, 1861 Virginia ratifies the Secessionist Convention referendum by a vote of 132,201 to 37,451