CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
During the secession crisis of 1860–1861, attitudes about leaving the United States varied widely throughout Virginia. While the majority of white men supported the secession referendum that was approved in a vote on May 23, 1861, many white Virginians remained ambivalent about or even hostile to the Confederacy. The northwestern part of Virginia split off to form the new state of West Virginia in 1863 over the issue of secession. Culturally and geographically, the far western part of Virginia differed dramatically from other regions of the state. In the western region, smaller farms with few enslaved laborers predominated. In the southwestern region, completion of the railroad during the 1850s transformed commercial and political connections for residents and increased the importance of slavery there. East of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the climate and topography of the piedmont and tidewater regions supported larger farms that relied heavily on enslaved laborers.
The central and eastern parts of Virginia had greater population and wealth than the west, and residents from those regions dominated the political landscape of the Commonwealth. More remote and removed from the capital city of Richmond by hundreds of miles, the residents in the mountainous regions of the far west were outnumbered and outranked when it came to having a political voice. While most western residents were not abolitionists, many did not support the Confederacy. Unionist activities were more pronounced in all the mountainous regions of the South, including in Tennessee and North Carolina, although it was only the residents of the far northwest quadrant of Virginia who went so far as to secede from their own state after Virginia seceded from the union.
The first map, Frank A. Gray’s “Gray’s New Topographical Map of Virginia and West Virginia,” was created in 1877. It depicts Virginia's and West Virginia’s topography (the natural physical features, such as mountains and rivers). The map also labels the counties as well as some cities and towns. Notice that the majority of Lee County is cut off from the main map, but it appears in a small box at the top left of the map.
The other map, E. Hergesheimer’s “Map of Virginia Showing the Distribution of its Slave Population from the Census of 1860,” was created in 1861. It shows the distribution of enslaved people in Virginia based on slave schedules and census records from 1860. At that time, almost half a million enslaved people lived in Virginia. More enslaved people and more owners of slaves lived in Virginia than in any other state in 1860. The darker shaded counties indicate where the greatest number of enslaved people lived.
Citations: Frank A. Gray, Gray's new topographical map of Virginia and West Virginia, ca. 1877 and E. Hergesheimer, Map of Virginia Showing the Distribution of its Slave Population from the Census of 1860, Washington, D.C., 1861, both Library of Virginia.
High resolution images of Gray's new topographical map (1877) and the Map of Virginia (1861) are available in the Library of Virginia's online catalog.
For more information and to view documents related to the secession crisis, see the Library's online resource Union or Secession: Virginians Decide.
The central and eastern parts of Virginia had greater population and wealth than the west, and residents from those regions dominated the political landscape of the Commonwealth. More remote and removed from the capital city of Richmond by hundreds of miles, the residents in the mountainous regions of the far west were outnumbered and outranked when it came to having a political voice. While most western residents were not abolitionists, many did not support the Confederacy. Unionist activities were more pronounced in all the mountainous regions of the South, including in Tennessee and North Carolina, although it was only the residents of the far northwest quadrant of Virginia who went so far as to secede from their own state after Virginia seceded from the union.
The first map, Frank A. Gray’s “Gray’s New Topographical Map of Virginia and West Virginia,” was created in 1877. It depicts Virginia's and West Virginia’s topography (the natural physical features, such as mountains and rivers). The map also labels the counties as well as some cities and towns. Notice that the majority of Lee County is cut off from the main map, but it appears in a small box at the top left of the map.
The other map, E. Hergesheimer’s “Map of Virginia Showing the Distribution of its Slave Population from the Census of 1860,” was created in 1861. It shows the distribution of enslaved people in Virginia based on slave schedules and census records from 1860. At that time, almost half a million enslaved people lived in Virginia. More enslaved people and more owners of slaves lived in Virginia than in any other state in 1860. The darker shaded counties indicate where the greatest number of enslaved people lived.
Citations: Frank A. Gray, Gray's new topographical map of Virginia and West Virginia, ca. 1877 and E. Hergesheimer, Map of Virginia Showing the Distribution of its Slave Population from the Census of 1860, Washington, D.C., 1861, both Library of Virginia.
High resolution images of Gray's new topographical map (1877) and the Map of Virginia (1861) are available in the Library of Virginia's online catalog.
For more information and to view documents related to the secession crisis, see the Library's online resource Union or Secession: Virginians Decide.
Standards
VS.1, VS.7, USI.1, USI.8, USI.9, WG.1, WG.4, WG.5, WG.15, WG.18, VUS.1, VUS.6, VUS.7, GOVT.1, GOVT.8
Suggested Questions
Preview Activites
Take a Look: On first glance, what stands out to you about each map? How is each map labeled? How does color and/or shading help you interpret each map? What is in the small boxes around the main map? Why do you think those locations appear there?
Analyze: How can topographical maps be useful? What might be the purpose of creating a map showing the distribution of enslaved people in Virginia? Who is the imagined audience for these maps? Think about the years each were created.
Note that on the bottom of the "Slave Population" map, there is a notation: “Sold for the benefit of the sick and wounded of the U.S. Army.” Why do you think this map was used as a fundraiser to support the Union’s soldiers?
Post-Activities
Analyze: How do the geographical features of the land influence where state borders are drawn? Point out at least two examples where the border is shaped by the physical features of the land.
Analyze: What do these maps help us understand about how geography influenced white people’s attitudes toward slavery in Virginia? Why is it better to use both maps rather than just one when exploring this topic?
Artistic Exploration/Current Connections: These maps help us see how the natural environment affects the local economy, which in turn influences people’s attitudes and behaviors. Think about the features of your local environment, those natural and those artificially created by humans. What features of your landscape influence how you live your life? Create a map showing the major physical features (buildings, lakes, caves, plains, hills, beaches, etc.) that shape your lifestyle and/or beliefs. Use labels, shading, and/or color to help your audience interpret the map.
Map It: Map scale is the relationship between distance on the map and distance on the ground and is usually given as a ratio or a fraction. Find the scale on this map and use it to calculate the distance from the county where you live to the state capital in Richmond.
The topographic map is a small-scale map showing a large area with less amount of detail than a large-scale map would. Would this map scale be appropriate for drawing a map of your classroom or your town? Why or why not?
Take a Look: On first glance, what stands out to you about each map? How is each map labeled? How does color and/or shading help you interpret each map? What is in the small boxes around the main map? Why do you think those locations appear there?
Analyze: How can topographical maps be useful? What might be the purpose of creating a map showing the distribution of enslaved people in Virginia? Who is the imagined audience for these maps? Think about the years each were created.
Note that on the bottom of the "Slave Population" map, there is a notation: “Sold for the benefit of the sick and wounded of the U.S. Army.” Why do you think this map was used as a fundraiser to support the Union’s soldiers?
Post-Activities
Analyze: How do the geographical features of the land influence where state borders are drawn? Point out at least two examples where the border is shaped by the physical features of the land.
Analyze: What do these maps help us understand about how geography influenced white people’s attitudes toward slavery in Virginia? Why is it better to use both maps rather than just one when exploring this topic?
Artistic Exploration/Current Connections: These maps help us see how the natural environment affects the local economy, which in turn influences people’s attitudes and behaviors. Think about the features of your local environment, those natural and those artificially created by humans. What features of your landscape influence how you live your life? Create a map showing the major physical features (buildings, lakes, caves, plains, hills, beaches, etc.) that shape your lifestyle and/or beliefs. Use labels, shading, and/or color to help your audience interpret the map.
Map It: Map scale is the relationship between distance on the map and distance on the ground and is usually given as a ratio or a fraction. Find the scale on this map and use it to calculate the distance from the county where you live to the state capital in Richmond.
The topographic map is a small-scale map showing a large area with less amount of detail than a large-scale map would. Would this map scale be appropriate for drawing a map of your classroom or your town? Why or why not?