History of West Virginia

Historical Context:

Early Inhabitants:                                                                                                                                     

Originally, several Native American tribes, including the Shawnee, Delaware, and Iroquois, lived in what is now West Virginia. Numerous archaeological sites throughout the state contain evidence of past societies.

Colonial and Frontier Period:                                                                                                                           

In the eighteenth century, European settlers started to arrive in the region. As European development encroached on Native American areas, conflicts between settlers and Native Americans became more frequent. Up until the Civil War, the region was a part of Virginia.

Statehood and the Civil War:                                                                                                                            

West Virginia became a separate state because of its advantageous location in the conflict. Because the western Virginia counties resisted secession, West Virginia became the 35th state to join the Union in 1863. The state fought in many Civil War engagements and skirmishes on its territory, giving it a rich history.

Industrialization and Labor Movement:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

1. 
   
                                                                                                                                                             The coal and logging industries, which shaped much of the state's economic and social history, flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The difficult working conditions miners encountered gave rise to important labor actions, such as the well-known Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921, one of the biggest labor strikes in American history.