The secession convention of Virginia took place at the John Boyle Hotel in Richmond, where delegates gathered to discuss the state’s future in light of the secession crisis ignited by the election of Abraham Lincoln and the initial clashes of the Civil War. The convention was significantly influenced by sentiments regarding states' rights, the protection of slavery, and the belief that the Southern way of life was under threat. On April 17, 1861, after days of deliberation marked by intense debate, the convention voted in favor of secession with a majority of 88 to 55. This vote came shortly after Lincoln's call for troops to suppress the rebellion in the Southern states, prompting a rapid shift in Virginia’s political landscape as many citizens began to view their allegiance as lying with the Confederacy rather than the Union.

Following the vote, Virginia quickly mobilized to join the Confederate States of America, becoming its eighth member. The decision was met with mixed emotions across the state, with deep divisions still present. Areas such as western Virginia would later oppose the secession and lead to the creation of the separate state of West Virginia in 1863. The convention decision fundamentally altered Virginia's trajectory and role in the Civil War, as the state became a central battleground for many key conflicts including the First Battle of Bull Run and the Siege of Petersburg.