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Description
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A Brief Description (Part Two) Slavery and state sovereignty, or States' Rights, fueled the desire for independence across the south. By February of 1861, six southern states had already seceded from the Union, and in Virginia a convention was staged to discuss the possibilties. 
On April 12, 1861, Confederate batteries at Charleston, South Carolina, opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The small Union force surrendered the next day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War; the fire was now lite; President Lincoln called for a Union response, and on April 17, 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union.
On May 29, the Confederacy moved their capital (the southern White House) from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond. The following day, the Union army slid into northern Virginia and captured Alexandria without much of a fight. Virginia would shortly become the central battleground of the disastrous Civil War.
At that time the western regions of Virginia, politically and socially removed from the east, (mainly because of slavery) voted to secede from Virginia. West Virginia was admitted to the Union in 1863, and for the most part, suffered little during America's most disastrous conflict.
More major battles of the Civil War were fought in Virginia than in any other state. Ironically, the first and last significant battles were staged in Virginia; the battle of Manassas was the first, and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse the last.
The war finally ended for a variety of reasons, but most historians seem to agree that the North's overwhelming force, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the fall of Atlanta played major roles. Robert E. Lee (born in Virginia), a brilliant soldier and the most celebrated general of the Confederate forces finally surrendered his army on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Courthouse.
At war's end, in their final hopeless act, the retreating Confederate Army set fire to Richmond. In short order the U.S. Congress placed all of the south under military rule and reconstruction began. Virginia was readmitted to the Union on January 26, 1870.
With much of its labor force dead, banks closed and infrastructure destroyed, the recovery effort was a turbulent process. At that time forces in Virginia actively worked to maintain legal and cultural racial segregation. The state's 1902 constitution actually prevented African-Americans from voting, a fact that remained mostly in force until the nationwide civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s.
On the productive side, Virginia's most important industry (tobacco) changed in 1911 with the government-forced breakup of the American Tobacco Company. That split created many smaller tobacco companies that significantly expanded the industry. Additionally, the popularity of cigarettes among the armed forces and the growth of cigarette popularity around the world fueled increased demand for tobacco.
Throughout World Wars I and II, and into the mid-20th century, Virginia's economy exploded and prosperity returned, Thousands of government related jobs were made available; nonagricultural businesses blossomed; large manufacturing industries opened factories across the state; employment skyrocketed; the tax base increased and Virginia never looked back.
Two recent major developments of note include Hampton Roads, one of the world's biggest and busiest harbors, and the restoration and recreation of Colonial Williamsburg, one of the largest historic restorations ever undertaken. Financed by the Rockefeller family, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, it celebrates the splendor of America's colonial era.
For those of us that love travel and historical points-of-interest, Virginia is a scrupulously maintained living history museum, and an on-going celebration of America's past and present. As the home state of eight U.S. Presidents, and the site of history-changing events, the state remains tightly woven into the fabric of America.
The state's official tourism slogan is, "Live Passionately. Virginia is for lovers!" Well, we couldn't agree more.
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Famous Natives VIRGINIA FAMOUS NATIVES - here! Fast Facts VIRGINIA FAST FACTS - here!  Flag and Symbols VIRGINIA FLAG AND SYMBOLS - here! Landforms VIRGINIA LANDFORMS - here! Land Statistics VIRGINIA LAND STATISTICS - here! Latitude and Longitude VIRGINIA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE - here! Links VIRGINIA LINKS - here! Maps VIRGINIA MAPS - (a large selection) here! Time TIME IN VIRGINIA - here! Timeline of History VIRGINIA TIMELINE - here!  Travel Information VIRGINIA TRAVEL - here! Weather VIRGINIA WEATHER - here! 
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