WI: No West Virginia?

Wolfpaw

Banned
What if West Virginia had never seceded from Virginia or had never been accepted as its own state, instead being reattached to Virginia after its Reconstruction in 1869?

What sorts of butterflies would this unleash?
 

WeisSaul

Banned
Virginia would have had more seats in the house, but West Virginia did always have a more distinct culture, so the representatives would likely be similar in character to OTL Virginia. Nonetheless, with WV as part of Virginia, its northern influences may lead to an early end to segregation in Virginia.

Virginia also would end up as a much wealthier state. With the coal revenues from WV, it could invest quite a few funds into infrastructure, schools, and the like, causing increased immigration to the state, and eventually a larger representation in congress. This Virginia would likely be somewhat politically progressive with staunch conservative tendencies, and would be socially conservative, though with some quaint liberal tendencies.
 
Might the Western region be sympathetic to the readjuster movement, could it have come to keep control of the whole state for longer
 
Virginia would have had more seats in the house, but West Virginia did always have a more distinct culture, so the representatives would likely be similar in character to OTL Virginia.
Don't forget the two fewer senators. I don't know what that'd change, but I'm sure it'd change something.
 
Top