[citation needed] Another misconception that Nevada was rushed into statehood was due to the 1864 Election, in which Abraham Lincoln needed a few more sure votes in the Electoral College to be re-elected. The reasons for Nevada's statehood were political, not economic. FACT: Nevada was actually the second “Battle Born” state because of its entrance into the Union during the Civil War. “Battle Born” West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863. In 1850, Nevada was organized into the Utah Territory and then became its own territory in 1861. Nevada was rushed into statehood earlier than other states because of issues involving the Civil War and the commitment of President Abraham Lincoln to preserve the union. Earlier writers were so caught up in romanticizing Nevada's role in the Civil War they decided to re-invent history. Nevada became the second of two states added to the Union during the Civil War (the first being West Virginia) and became known as the “Battle Born State” as a result of when it achieved statehood. TIL the Nevada Territory was created and rushed to statehood largely to help secure Republican control of the presidency and senate during the Civil War With Fremont dropping out of the race, Lincoln's margin of victory over McClellan was 212 to 21 so Nevada's three electoral votes were not of consideration. Statehood was rushed to help ensure three electoral votes for Abraham Lincoln 's reelection and add to the Republican congressional majorities. At the end of the war, in 1848, Nevada became part of the United States as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. On October 31, 1864, Lincoln signed the act to make Nevada the thirty-sixth state.