The Ordinance of Secession was the document drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861 by each of the states formally seceding from the United States of America. Each state ratified its own ordinance of secession, typically by means of a special convention delegation or by a general referendum. Virginia's ordinance was approved by a referendum but rejected by 26 counties in the north and west of the state (see Wheeling Convention), leading to the creation of West Virginia.