West Virginia: Polity Style: 1863-2026

20 Aug 1861	the formation of a new state, to be called the State of Kanawha, from a portion of the territory of Virginia is agreed upon, in accordance with an ordinance adopted by the Convention held at Wheeling, Virginia, on 20 Aug 1861, pending ratification by voters within the boundaries of the proposed State (Virginia Convention Journal 1861, pp. 64-67; West Virginia Ordinances 1861, pp. 16-19) [1]
6 Nov 1861	the ordinance providing for the formation of the State of Kanawha is ratified by the vote held on 24 Oct 1861, the results of which were certified by proclamation of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia issued at Wheeling on 6 Nov 1861 (Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, No. 82, 7 Nov 1861, p. 2) [2]
18 Feb 1862	the Constitution of West Virginia is adopted at a session of the Convention held at Wheeling on 18 Feb 1862, pending ratification by the voters of the proposed state (West Virginia Convention Debates 1861-1863, 3:449; West Virginia Convention Journal 1861-1862, p. 179) [2]
18 Apr 1862	the Constitution of West Virginia is ratified by the voters of the proposed state on 3 Apr 1862, the results of which were certified by proclamation of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia issued at Wheeling on 18 Apr 1862 (Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, No. 221, 19 Apr 1862, p. 2) [2][3]
13 May 1862	the consent of the Legislature of Virginia is given to the formation and erection of the State of West Virginia, within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in accordance with an act passed by the General Assembly of Virginia (House of Delegates on 10 May 1862, Senate on 12 May 1862, with amendments, House of Delegates rejects the amendments on 13 May 1862; Senate withdraws the amendments on 13 May 1862) (Virginia Session Laws (Wheeling) 1862, p. 3) [4][5]
31 Dec 1862	the admission of West Virginia to the Union is agreed upon, subject to amendment of the State's Constitution, in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (Senate on 14 Jul 1862, House of Representatives on 10 Dec 1862), signed into law on 31 Dec 1862 (Statutes at Large, 12:633-634) [6]
18 Feb 1863	the Amended Constitution of West Virginia is adopted at a session of the Convention held at Wheeling on 18 Feb 1863, pending ratification by the people of West Virginia (West Virginia Convention Debates 1861-1863, 3:729-731)
16 Apr 1863	the Amended Constitution of West Virginia is ratified by the people of West Virginia at an election held on 26 Mar 1863, the results of which were certified by the President and the Executive Committee of the Convention on 16 Apr 1863 (Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, No. 204, 17 Apr 1863, p. 2)
20 Jun 1863	West Virginia is admitted to the United States in accordance with the Act of Congress approved on 31 Dec 1862, taking effect upon the issuance of a proclamation by the President of the United States on 20 Apr 1863, with admission effective 60 days thereafter, on 20 Jun 1863 (Statutes at Large, 13:731-732)
20 Jun 1863 -	State of West Virginia

Full title: An Ordinance to provide for the formation of a new State out of a portion of the territory of this State.
The proclamations were issued by Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Pierpont, claiming authority in opposition to that of the constitutionally elected Governor, Letcher.
The original draft of the Constitution referred to the proposed State as Kanawha; a motion to replace "Kanawha" with "West Virginia" was approved on 2 Dec 1861.
Full title: An Act giving the consent of the Legislature of Virginia to the formation and erection of a new State within the jurisdiction of this State.
The act was passed by the General Assembly, claiming legislative authority in opposition to the Constitutionally elected General Assembly which never consented to the creation of the State of West Virginia.
Full title: An Act for the Admission of the State of "West Virginia" into the Union and for other Purposes.