Rogue state : the unconstitutional process of establishing West Virginia statehood / Richard H. Owens.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Owens, Richard H., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Statehood (American politics)--History.

Statehood (American politics).

History.

West Virginia--History.

West Virginia.

West Virginia--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

71 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : University Press of America, [2013].

Summary:

Rogue State chronicles how West Virginia entered-and remains-in the Union under unconstitutional circumstances. Its severance from Virginia and reincorporation as a new state in 1863 occurred outside the bounds of constitutional legality. The United States government, while pledged to prevent the secession of eleven states from the Union, nevertheless condoned, abetted, supported, and ultimately affirmed secession of fifty counties without permission from Virginia. This unprecedented and unconstitutional process marks the only time in American history that a state was created and admitted to the Union outside the boundaries of the prescribed constitutional process. Lincoln's attorney general even declared the process unconstitutional. Though secession was not permitted for states or parts of states by the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. government produced a façade of legality and constitutionality in 1863 to justify the secession of a part of one state to form another. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Overview 1

2 Background 5

3 Designs for Division and Dismemberment 9

4 Precipitation: The Critical Events of 1859 and 1860 13

5 The First Act of Secession: Virginia 17

6 Constitutional Legerdemain: Seceding from a Seceded State 21

7 On the Battlefield 29

8 Rogue Statehood 33

9 Lincoln's Concerns and Congressional Intent 37

10 West Virginia Constitutions and Politics 41

11 Epilogue 47.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 69-71) and index.

ISBN:

0761859764

9780761859765

OCLC:

853243657