Psssst, Urqh. We know how you Limeys like to add letters where they are not needed (e.g. harbour, colour, etc), but there is no "p" in that fort's name. Fort Sumter.
Technically, it did. The "Restored Government of Virginia" first met in 1861 at Wheeling, Virginia/West Virginia, and Francis H. Pierpont was the Union Governor of Virginia. When West Virginia seceded from Virginia, the Restored Government of Virginia relinquished it's claim on those counties joining West Virginia and moved the "state capitol" to Alexandria, Virginia on August 26, 1863. Granted that, while the Restored Government of Virginia claimed authority over "all" of Virginia, the authority, in reality, only extended to areas of Virginia under the control of the Union's Armies.
Urqh is not alone...He really is not alone https://www.google.com/search?q=Fort+Sumpter&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&channel=rcs#channel=rcs&nfpr=1&q=Fort+Sumpter&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial Those darn Limeys even controlled the New York Times way back when http://www.nytimes.com/1861/04/15/news/fort-sumpter-fallen-particulars-bombardment-fort-fire-garrison-exhaustedno.html
Secession from a state to form a new state or join another, makes sense to me. In our federal system, you shouldn't have to be held hostage to a majority. Colorado is going through this, with rural people in the northeast part of the state fed up with the growing urban Denver population dictating their lifestyle. That seems to be the most common issue - rural people are generally conservative and they get tired of having to obey the dictates of the urban/suburban liberals. So now there's a serious and growing secession movement there. In the bigger sense, that's why we formed a Republic in the first place, so each state could go its own way in most things. It seems within the spirit of that notion to form new states or join other states.
Don't give up hope yet urqh, and keep the popcorn popper ready. There are similar movements in Maryland (5 counties want to secede and form West Maryland), Michigan (the upper peninsula area is contemplating secession) and there are rumblings in northern California and southern Oregon as well. It seems that there is one victorious movement, then the others will probably get going as well. The secession movements in Maryland and Colorado were the only ones I was aware of, but further reading revealed the movements in Michigan and California. There are many problems with beginning a new state, but a new one will arise soon. The Separatist's in Colorado want to name their new state "Jefferson" after our 3rd president, Thomas Jefferson. Seems that the same name is favored in the northern California/southern Oregon movement as well. Could get interesting.
Northern California and Southern Oregon might actually be viable. The UP of Michigan would be very problematic.
urgh, now that the US is trying to become an adjective, Balkanize comes to mine, and is talkin', US for discussion, about multiple splits now may be the time for the UK to invade , yet again, and restore some order to the errant colonies. Just be careful the Scots do not slip away with all that oil or the Welsh and their sheep......bit close to home, what. I ,too, find all this amusing , if it were not actually happening. I can see 60-70 isolationist states , raising chickens and such, our version of sheep, while the orient slowly buys them up. Alabama has a great disregard for the Federal government but seems okay with accepting $1.60 for each dollar we send to Washington. Got to love it !! LOL. I once dreamed of a cottage in South Devon but figga I will up and die right here in Alabama, that is unless North Alabama kicks East Alabama out and we have to come up with a new name !! I recently ask a Korean friend what was with an the Korean manufacturing plants in out area. He laughed and said "Haven't you heard, you are our China" ......Had to laugh. In our Civil War, which was not very civil, a county in NW Alabama, Winston, declared it self the "Free State of Winston" and seceded from Alabama. Thank goodness they are back in the fold. It is clearly time for us to invade Granada again, get the attention off the domestic side , maybe the BBC can make a series out of it. Foyle's War 111. Got to run and clean my musket, Jeanne promised to make me some patches ! Maybe instead of Granada we should try West Virginia this time ? Gaines
Well, Professor Gaines, I'm not terribly concerned that the great state of Alabama will find itself splitting into different entities. However, what I do see is Alabama finally driving south and claiming that part of Florida, aka Lower Alabama, that should have been part of the state to begin with. Say, from Panama City west to the Perdido River. Georgia can do the same, as far as I am concerned and leave an already Yankee-infested rump state conprising the the parts of present-day Florida south of Orlando.
I have always thought that!! The Chattahoochee is the obvious boundary !!!! Georgia might join us and get their part of that "leg" !! LOL Lowe Florida that can keep, after all the Brits need somewhere to go to actually see the sun !!
We can whip up a frenzy with "87o 50' or Fight." How does that sound? We'll have the state spoiling for a fight in no time. While we are it, we can get the Georgia/Alabama border along the Chattahoochee River moved from the west bank of the river to the middle of the river. Step off the bank into the river from the Alabama side and you are in Georgia. What's up with that?
I always wondered how Alabama got screwed out of some of the world's nicest beaches. As for Georgia annexing down to Orlando - while I have no dog (so to speak) in that fight - many residents of this state would want to nuke Gainesville on the way by. Seems some guy named Spurrier caused them much wailing and knashing of teeth and they don't forget in these parts. The 'Hooch forms in North Georgia - its our river. Y'all get all the water from our other N. Georgia river system. Be happy with that.
Spain owned the land when the lines were originally drawn and we could not get a do-over when the US acquired the territory. And shhhhh about the beautiful beaches. Next thing you know there will be yankees everywhere down. Well, I guess we're a bit too late on that. Just don't tell them about the mild winters.
So have I got this right....Mickey Mouse is about to punch Donald Ducks lights out in Orlando... Love to invade Gaines...but the army is on leave at moment...Private Lyons...for he is the army at present is sitting at home with his feet up..he's going to be busy in the future... The RAF is tied up showing students around its aircraft...both of em ... In Scotland. The Navy is presently patrolling around the Isle of Wight in its rowing boat..and can't be contacted.. Granada's not worth doing again mate...Its got too much off shore tax havens based there now...you could bring your own economy down in one beach assault... Try the Falklands...Then we in the UK might just..just get a tad out of our trees and see you on the beach... All for one and one for me...Cheers..chin chin....Per Ardua Ad Astra...or pass the gin as we used to say...chin chin.. Good luck on the civil war you guys....Will there be fried chicken?
Its ok...Brits are on the way to intercede....in your seeding...Just give us a call first... http://youtu.be/TlVqz3Mq1CY
urgh, what a wonderfully funny marvelous link!!! I would marry that girl for her voice alone, well if I were not already married and she were no closer than 2od cousin.........GB
Actualy, in reference to the question about why Florida ended up with all the beautiful beaches, simple government meddling is the reason. Florida's western border originally was the Mississippi River. The eastern portion of Louisiana and the coastal areas of Mississippi and Alabama were part of Florida, which was a Spanish posession. After the US "obtained" Florida, the territories of Missippi and Alabama were granted access to the Gulf, thus explaining the little parts of their states stretching out to the sea. The part from the Pearl River west to the Mississippi River was added to the Louisiana territory. The part that was added to Louisiana was taken by force from Spain by colonists, and existed as the West Florida Republic for 99 days before the US annexed it to the Louisiana Purchase area. Those parishes between the Mississippi River and the Pearl River are still referred to as the Florida Parishes. We didn't get any good beaches out of the deal, so we migrate east in the summers to stimulate the economy and spend money in those states who got the better deal.
