First Wheeling Convention / Second Wheeling Convention

From May 13 to 15, 1861, delegates from 27 counties in northwestern VA met in Wheeling to decide how to respond to the VA Ordinance of Secession. Although they were predominantly pro-Union, they postponed further action on restoring a loyal state government and possibly creating a separate state until after the statewide secession referendum. From June 11 to 25 and August 6 to 21, 1861, delegates from more than 30 western VA counties met after the state seceded from the Union. They declared the government in Richmond no longer legitimate, established a restored government based in Wheeling, and moved to create a new state named Kanawha, which voters approved in an October 24, 1861, referendum.

Wheeling, West Virginia · United States