Those white Virginians who supported the Union were often from wealthier families or were members of the gentry. They were also more likely to be from the eastern part of the state, which had closer ties to the North. Unionists believed that the Union was worth preserving and that the federal government had the right to maintain its authority over the states.
Those white Virginians who supported the Confederacy were often from poorer families or were farmers. They were also more likely to be from the western part of the state, which had closer ties to the South. Confederates believed that the South had the right to secede from the Union and that the federal government was overstepping its authority by trying to prevent them from doing so.
The Civil War had a devastating impact on Virginia, and the state was slow to recover after the war. The war also left a legacy of bitterness and division that persisted for many years.