Larger Virginia?

Not a expert on early US history... I understand Virginia gave up its claims to territory west of the Appalachians as it was thought to expensive to govern. is this correct? Was there any interest among Virginias leaders to retain control of that region, covering much of the Tennesse & Ohio river basins? And of course, what would be the consequences of a effort to retain political control?
 
I'm not an expert either but my understanding is that most of the thirteen original states had overlapping territorial claims over the area in question. However, they struck an agreement with the Federal govt. where by all of the states transferred their land claims to the Federal govt.
 
Maryland forced the issue by refusing to sign the articles of confederation in 1780 until tthe other state give up their land. It took most of the rest of the century to resolve the issues to everyone satisfaction.
 
Maybe Maryland would let the western territories remain with Virginia if it had a little larger share? As I understand Pennsylvania and North Carolina were the principle competing claimants to the western territories?


Or prevent West Virginia from seceding.

If the northwestern counties were to secede they would likely include areas along the upper Ohio river into what became Kentucky, or even Tennessee.
 
I'm a Virginian who has studied this incessantly. Prevent West Virginia's creation by butterflying away either 1) Lincoln's election, 2) the start date of the American Civil War, or 3) Virginia's secession from the Union after Lincoln's election.
 
Maybe Maryland would let the western territories remain with Virginia if it had a little larger share? As I understand Pennsylvania and North Carolina were the principle competing claimants to the western territories?
No; here's a map. Just about all of New England, as well as Pennsylvania and New York, had land claims overlapping with Virginia's. North Carolina was actually one of the few states whose claim was precisely defined, as modern-day Tennessee.
 
I'm a Virginian who has studied this incessantly. Prevent West Virginia's creation by butterflying away either 1) Lincoln's election, 2) the start date of the American Civil War, or 3) Virginia's secession from the Union after Lincoln's election.

The third one would be greatly preferable - it not only spares Virginia and Richmond the death and destruction of the Civil War, but the state's fledgling industries would not only stay intact, but have access to the vast resources of West Virginia, so with the post-ACW industrial boom, Virginia would be in a similar position to Pennsylvania, and flourish as the Keystone state did. Virginia would become a part of the greater BosWash a little over a century ahead of time.

As far as earlier PODs, regarding the Western claims, unlike the rest, Virginia did have a recognized claim to Kentucky - keeping Kentucky as part of Virginia, while a challenge, would undoubtedly make Virginia more important as well as larger - having access to both the Atlantic, the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers would make trade as important to the state as it did for New York. Also, with even more mountainous mostly plantation-free counties in the state, you also just nerfed any chance of Virginia seceding during TTL's Civil War.
 
No; here's a map. Just about all of New England, as well as Pennsylvania and New York, had land claims overlapping with Virginia's. North Carolina was actually one of the few states whose claim was precisely defined, as modern-day Tennessee.

Thanks for that. In theory were Virginia to retain a portion of the Ohio basin then N Carolina & Georgia might retain their western claims. there is at least a clear geographical connection. I've no clue if there was any interest among New Yorks leaders in control of their claims to the lakes region. The water transportation routes are a economic advantage.
 
That would require that the Colony of Maryland not be founded,

I was thinking of this previously. If Lord Baltimore had died of the plague that killed his wife and daughter after New Avalon and his son Cecil was discouraged from overseas ventures for his generation then Claiborne would have toasted to his death.
 
uninted results

If Virginia held onto more land their could be very voient conflicts. In the Wyoming Valley in OTL their were battles between settlers from Conn and pa over the land eventually congress had to get involved to solve it. I could also see problems as the states expanded westward since many of their claims were to the Pacific ocean even if other states and countries were in the way.
 
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