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WEST VIRGINIA BECOMES THE UNITED STATES' 35TH STATE
West Virginia officially becomes the 35th state to join the United States. Arthur Boreman is also the first governor of the state.

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BATTLE OF RICH MOUNTAIN
George McClellan drove out the Confederates, to protect the B&O Railroad and the Restored Government. They surrounded the Confederates' camp, and there were 20 Union and 100 Confederate deaths. The Confederates then left northwestern Virginia, so the Restored Government could write the statehood bill.

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LINCOLN  SIGNS STATEHOOD BILL
Lincoln signed West Virginia's statehood bill, after being convinced to by Jacob Blair during a New Year's Ball. Jacob Blair climbed into the White House through a window while Lincoln was sleeping to ensure the signing of it.

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RESTORED GOVERNMENT OF VIRGINIA GIVES PERMISSION TO FORM NEW STATE
The Restored Government created the statehood bill and Constitution, which included the Willey Amendment. Carlile argued for more counties, and people voted 18,062 to 514 for the creation of the new state.

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SECOND WHEELING CONVENTION
Arthur I. Boreman presided the second Wheeling Convention, and the Declaration of the Rights of the People of Virginia made the Restored Government of Virginia. Francis Pierpont is the governor, and Waitman T. Willey and John Carlile are the Senators. They then drafted the statehood bill.

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VIRGINIA'S ORDINANCE OF SECESSION IS RATIFIED
The majority of Virginians voted to secede from the Union, so Virginia had officially seceded from the Union. Lincoln then sent George McClellan to protect B&O Railroad and West Virginia's statehood movement.

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FIRST WHEELING CONVENTION
John Carlile called for the first Wheeling Convention and for a New Virginia. There were 429 delegates from 27 counties, and they created the framework for West Virginia's statehood. However, Waitman T. Willey called the plan triple treason, and they knew Virginia wouldn't give them permission to become a new state, so they waited to hold a second Wheeling Convention and give themselves permission to after the Ordinance of Secession was ratified.

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ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER
The Confederate government of South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter, because Lincoln wouldn't withdraw federal troops from it, or else it would recognize that the South Carolina had truly seceded from the Union. Lincoln asked loyal states to send 75,000 troops to help defend the fort, but Virginia refused to send troops, since it would be a violation of the states' rights principle and it would be betraying their fellow southern states.

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VIRGINIA DRAFTS ORDINANCE OF SECESSION
The Virginian government passed an Ordinance of Secession that would allow Virginia to secede from the Union. The vote to pass it was 88 votes for secession and 55 voted against secession, and of the 47 representatives from western Virginia, 32 delegates voted against secession.

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LINCOLN'S ELECTION
Abraham Lincoln was the only candidate without any major political enemies, so he was nominated as the Republican candidate for presidency. Lincoln won with only 40% of the popular vote, however he had 180 electoral, whereas his two opponents combined has only 123 votes. He was popular within all the northern states, except for New Jersey.