Five Virginia Conventions choose their nation: Causes and results of the Civil War in Virginia.
The immediate cause of the Civil War in Virginia was the convention in 1861 that chose between the Confederate States and the United States for a nation. The two sides justified themselves in public debate by using alternative histories of previous conventions choosing a nation. Looking at the original debates for views in both convention majorities and defeated factions can expose biases in subsequent interpretations that cherry pick among these debates for their arguments.
This book, Five Virginia Conventions choose their nation: The Causes and Results of the Civil War in Virginia, looks at the five Virginia convention debates where delegates of the Virginian people chose a nation. It uses the best scholarly work over the last twenty-five years published by university presses, occasionally supplemented by their scholarly references.
In concept it is similar to the out-of-print Revolution to Secession: Constitution Making in the Old Dominion by Robert P. Sutton (1989), It is not original research, but it conveys historical context, the debates and divisions in each convention, and it extends coverage to the end of Reconstruction as the result of the Civil War.
Virginia created a republic for its state government in 1776 and Secessionists emphasized states rights from that time. In 1788 the Virginia convention ratified the Constitution and Unionists emphasized loyalty to that Constitution. In 1861 Secessionists in Richmond chose the Confederacy. Also in 1861, Virginian Unionists in Wheeling chose the United States, making two Virginias for the duration of the Civil War.
The political result of the Civil War in Virginia was the Convention of 1868-1869 and its Constitutional referendum of 1870. By embracing the 14th Amendment, Virginia could reseat its Congressional delegation and vote for U.S. President again in a body politic including both African-American freedmen and ex-Confederates.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I: State sovereignty and more perfect Union
Chapter 1. Virginia Convention of 1776 and the Continental Congresses
Introduction
State conventions and Continental Congresses
Calling the convention
The delegates
The debates
The votes
Outcomes – Virginia’s Bill of Rights
Outcomes – The Virginia Constitution
Outcomes – Declaration and the State of Virginia
Endnotes
Bibliography
Chapter 2. Virginia Ratifying (Federal) Convention
Introduction
The delegates
The debates
“We, the People”
Union at risk
Vote for ratification
Outcomes
Endnotes
Bibliography
Part II: Civil War, a war between Virginia brothers
Chapter 3. Virginia’s Civil War: Richmond Secession Convention 1861
Introduction
Calls for convention and delegates
The debates and votes
Outcomes – a new state constitution fails
Endnotes
Bibliography
Chapter 4. Virginia’s Wheeling Unionist Convention, 1861
Introduction
Calls for convention and delegates
The debates and votes
Outcomes
Endnotes
Bibliography
Part III: Reconstruction and readmission to Congress
Chapter 5. Virginia’s Constitutional Convention of 1868
Introduction
Calls for convention
The delegates
The debates
The votes
Outcomes
Endnotes
Bibliography
Conclusion
Appendix A. Virginia’s 1776 Convention Delegate Biographical Sketches
Appendix B. Virginia’s 1788 Convention Delegate Biographical Sketches
Appendix C. Virginia’s 1861 – Richmond Convention Biographical Sketches
Appendix D. Virginia’s 1861 – Wheeling Convention Biographical Sketches
Appendix E. Virginia’s 1868-1869 Convention Biographical Sketches
Bibliography
Chapter 1. Virginia Fifth Revolutionary Convention (Articles of Confederation)
*Andrews, Matthew Page. Virginia, the Old Dominion. Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1937.
*Green, Fletcher Melvin. Constitutional Development in the South Atlantic States, 1776-1860. University of North Carolina Press, 1930.
*Grigsby, Hugh Blair. The History of the Virginia Federal Convention of 1788. Virginia Historical Society, 1891. Reprint. Da Capo Press 1969.
*Gutzman, Kevin R.C. Virginia’s Revolution: from Dominion to Republic, 1776-1840. Lexington Books, 2007.
*Heinemann, Ronald L., et al. Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: a history of Virginia, 1607-2007. University of Virginia Press, 2007.
Jefferson, Thomas. Notes on Virginia
*Keyssar, Alexander. The Right to Vote: the contested history of democracy in the United States. Basic Books, 2000.
*Mapp, Alf. The Virginia Experiment: The Old Dominion’s Role in the Making of America 1607-1781. Hamilton Press, 1985.
*Sutton, Robert P. Revolution to Secession: Constitution making in the Old Dominion. University Press of Virginia, 1989.
Chapter 2. Virginia Federal (Ratification) Convention
*Andrews, Matthew Page. Virginia, the Old Dominion. Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1937.
*Dabney, Virginius. Virginia: the New Dominion. Doubleday, 1970.
*Grigsby, Hugh Blair. The History of the Virginia Federal Convention of 1788. Virginia Historical Society, 1891. Reprint. DaCapo Press 1969.
*Heinemann, Ronald L., et al. Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: a history of Virginia, 1607-2007. University of Virginia Press, 2007.
*Maier, Pauline. Ratification: the People debate the Constitution, 1787-1788. Simon and Schuster, 2010.
*Wallenstein, Peter. Cradle of America: four centuries of Virginia history. University Press of Kansas, 2007.
Chapter 3. Virginia Secession Convention (Confederacy)
*Brenaman, Jacob Neff. A History of Virginia Conventions. J.L. Hill Printing Company, 1902. Reprint
*Dabney, Virginius. Virginia: the New Dominion. Doubleday, 1970.
*Dinan, John. The Virginia State Constitution: a reference guide. Praeger Publishers, 2006.
*Freehling, William W. and Craig M. Simpson. Showdown in Virginia: the 1861 Convention and the Fate of the Union. University of Virginia Press, 2010.
*Heinemann, Ronald L., et al. Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: a history of Virginia, 1607-2007. University of Virginia Press, 2007.
*Wallenstein, Peter. Cradle of America: four centuries of Virginia history. University Press of Kansas, 2007.
Chapter 4. Virginia Wheeling (Unionist) Convention
*Lowe, Richard. Republicans and Reconstruction in Virginia, 1856-70. University Press of Virginia, 1991.
* Proceedings of the Second Wheeling Convention, June 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 1861 reported in the Wheeling Intelligencer at “A State of Convenience: the creation of West Virginia” viewed October 2, 2016.
*Rice, Otis K., and Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History. University Press of Kentucky, 1993
Chapter 5. Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868 (restore Congressional delegation)
*Brenaman, Jacob Neff. A History of Virginia Conventions. J.L. Hill Printing Company, 1902. Reprint
*Chandler, Julian Alvin Carroll. The History of Suffrage in Virginia. John Hopkins Press, 1901. Reprint
*Dabney, Virginius. Virginia: the New Dominion. Doubleday, 1972.
*Dinan, John. The Virginia State Constitution: a reference guide. Praeger Publishers, 2006.
*Heinemann, Ronald L., et al. Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: a history of Virginia, 1607-2007. University of Virginia Press, 2007.
*Lowe, Richard. Republicans and Reconstruction in Virginia, 1856-70. University Press of Virginia, 1991.
*Pulliam, David Lloyd. The Constitutional Conventions of Virginia from the foundation of the Commonwealth to the present time. John T. West Publisher, 1901. reprint
*Wallenstein, Peter. Cradle of America: four centuries of Virginia history. University Press of Kansas, 2007.