Battle Born: Why is Nevada a State?

Like most states of the Union, the creation of Nevada’s boundaries was as much a matter of politics as of geography.

Check out our new shop for fun The History Guy merchandise:

This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:

All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.

Find The History Guy at:

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.

Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:

Script by

#history #thehistoryguy #

[skydiverclassc]

My favorite quote about old time life in Nevada comes from Mark Twain's book "Roughing It". He describes the town of Virginia city as (in part): "There were military companies, fire companies, brass bands, banks, hotels, theatres, "hurdy-gurdy houses, " wide-open gambling palaces, political pow wows, civic processions, street fights, murders, inquests, riots, a whisky mill every fifteen steps . . . a dozen breweries and half a dozen jails and stationhouses in full operation, and some talk of building a church."

[alancranford]

I retired from the Nevada Army National Guard and the Battle Born shoulder patch accompanied me when I deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom II. From 2005 to 2009 I fired the opening cannon to start the Nevada Day Parade in Carson City. Getting a bachelor's degree in Nevada required me to take a course on the Nevada state constitution. I was a telecommunications professional, too--and that long telegram was part of telecommunications history.

Still, I learned a lot from this 21-minute video. Thank you, History Guy.

[ianfitzpatrick]

Nevada born and raised here. It’s been a pleasure growing up in the Great Basin. There’s all kinds of little lakes nestled in the mountains to fish or camp near. From the snowy mountains in the west to the bristle cone pines in the east, the state is packed full of exploration. The petroglyphs are always neat to go see also

[ralphfenortner]

As a Nevadan I appreciated learning more about my state. I was always taught in school that it was the silver that got us into the Union.

[DowntownPaco]

As a native born Las Vegas, Nevadan. I approve of this video. Excellent job Professor!

[alfredsutton]

History deserves to be remembered. Because if we don't, we are doomed to repeat the worst of it.

[coyote]

Montana and Florida also have Spanish names that are not pronounced as the Spanish would. As a Nevadan, I thank you for putting our correct state pronunciation first in your video.

[herbertfawcett]

The telegrapher who sent the state constitution, later became Governor and was said to be the only one to have read it in full. Gov. Bell

[jamiesuejeffery]

I grew up in Idaho, lived in Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, and now Nevada. I love all of the state’s histories. The Nevada State History Museum is an amazing place to visit. The two exhibits that stand out to me are the Washoe tribe who were/are amazing basket weavers, making watertight baskets out of river reeds, and then the minting press that took refined silver and pressed them into silver dollars. The last time I visited, I purchased three silver coins. Yes. We are the, “Silver State” and yes, we are the, “Battle Born” state. Thank you for your short corrected history. By the way, I live in Reno. If anyone is familiar with the phrase, “I’m moving to Reno, ” that is a phrase for divorce, because Nevada had one of the most lenient laws for divorce. That is how I ended up in Nevada.

[alexchavez]

Born and raised in Reno, I love Nevada so much. Thank you for this video

[EmotionallyExhausted]

I was hoping for a mention of that Bonanza episode. I know it was fiction, but I think it has encouraged many to learn more about the actual history of the area, and that's always a good thing. Riding the train last fall from Carson City to Virginia City was an unbelievable, geeky thrill. We'd love to live in the Carson Valley some day. Another sort of history-ish example from Bonanza was the two-part episode, "The Pursued", which focused on the contributions of Mormon settlers in the area. Watching Ben trying to explain polygamy to Hoss and Little Joe was both unexpected and memorable.

[nousdefions]

As a fourth generation native of Nevada, I'm glad you shared this.

[tinah.]

I love that this video started with how to pronounce the name. Even our DMV has posters that say " it's Na-va-dah, not Na-vah-hah"...lol

[keithrosenberg]

As I write this the upper parts of the Spring Mountain range, looming to the East of my home here in Nevada, are covered with snow. The same mountain range is visible to the West from Las Vegas. It gets at least some snow every year.

[johnallen]

While hitch hiking as an English student I was lucky enough to spend a week in Las Vegas virtually free, the casinos had free restaurants, a motel let me have a room and my accent meant no one would let me by a drink lol.

[mommyjsj]

WOW! Had to listen twice to gather it all. Great Statehood story.

[Qrail]

As a resident in Nevada for 30 years, I appreciate your story. “Home means Nevada to me”. (The state song)

My first wife, and my children are Nevada natives. Her family settled in Genoa in 1868. When I first moved to Nevada in 1972, the total state population was 727, 000. Reno as a city is considerably older than Las Vegas, yet it wasn’t until 1962 that they were equal in size.

[patriley]

Thanks for the video. I learned a lot. I live in Reno and like the area. One of the best things about living here is that Nevada is only a short drive away.

[rayvandenberg]

the history, especially the little-known facts, of this country never fails to enthrall and educate.

[tomblack]

Thanks, Lance, nice episode. How you found that Bonanza reference is a mystery, but remarkable.