Why was nevada admitted to the union

Our state's history has too often been embellished and transposed into myth, and the claim of Nevada's mineral wealth triggering statehood ranks as one of the most pervasive legends in the annals of the Silver State. The reasons for Nevada's statehood were political, not economic. Nye put down any demonstration in support of the Confederacy, and there were some.

The federal government bought much of Nevada's silver and gold bullion to support its currency and mint coins. What federal taxes there were at the time went into Union coffers. Therefore, Nevada's creation as a territory on March 2, , ensured that its riches would help the Union, and not the Confederate cause.

The Union had won decisive victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, and the South was in shambles. President Lincoln sought reelection and faced a three-way race against Gen.

John C. Fremont, the radical Republican candidate who had run for the presidency and lost to James Buchanan in and Gen. George B. McClellan, a Democrat. If the presidential election went to the House of Representatives, as it had in in a four-way race, Lincoln supporters — including Ohio Rep. James M. Lincoln proclaimed Nevada a state on October 31, , and, eight days later, Nevada voted strongly Republican in the Presidential, congressional, and legislative elections.

The state surely was "Battle Born" one of its several state mottoes. The Civil War had been indispensable for giving statehood to one of the least populated and economically viable of all the territories.

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Related Articles None at this time. The Nevada Constitution: Origin and Growth. David Alan Johnson. The area formed part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, becoming part of Mexico when that country gained independence in The United States acquired the territory in following its victory in the Mexican-American War , and the area was eventually incorporated as part of Utah Territory in The discovery of silver at the Comstock Lode in led to a population boom that became an impetus to the creation of Nevada Territory out of western Utah Territory in Nevada's harsh but rich environment shaped its history and culture.

Before small Mormon settlements along the Utah border sustained their communities through faith, but the secular western section stumbled along until the great silver strikes beginning in created boom towns and fabulous fortunes. After the beginning of the 20th century, profits declined while Progressive reformers sought to curb rampaging capitalism and its attendant miseries.