NC Leads the Way Towards IndependenceIn 1774, tensions increased amongst the 13 colonies and Britain. For the most part, North Carolinians thought the tensions would die down and hence, in August, colonial delegates pledged their loyal to the British crown in New Bern, NC.

Several months later in the spring of 1775, a peaceful end wasn’t in the cards when news broke about the battles at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts.

Part I: The First Step To Independence Mecklenburg County residents subsequently organized a county-wide meeting on May 19, led by the commander of the county militia, Colonel Thomas Polk and attended by two representatives from each of the nine militia groups. Its purpose was to inform the North Carolina representatives in the Continental Congress their (Mecklenburg county residents) intention to separate from Britain. It was later revised on May 31st, and subsequently called the Mecklenburg Resolves [The Resolves is much longer, 20 paragraphs, and in more detail than the Meck/Dec]. It was the first group of residents amongst all of the colonies to declare independence.

On June 1, 1775, the North Carolina representatives approved the Resolves. Of course, these actions were considered treasonous. Residents began to organize their government as well as prepare to defend themselves.

FYIThomas Jefferson questioned the authenticity of the original Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence because it was very similar to the wording he used in the more well-known and one of the most important historical documents, the Declaration of Independence. His claim as well as others proved to be difficult because the original copy was destroyed in a house fire in the early 1800s and only copies written from memory was available.

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (May 20, 1775)

WHEREAS, By an Address presented to His Majesty by both Houses of Parliament, in February last, the American colonies are declared to be in a state of actual rebellion, we conceive [believe], that all laws and commissions confirmed by, or derived from the authority of the King or Parliament, are annulled [abolished, void] and vacated, and the former civil [respect amongst citizens} constitution of these colonies, for the present, wholly suspended. To provide, in some degree, for the exigencies [urgencies] of these colonies, in the present alarming period, we deem it proper and necessary to pass the following Resolves [Decisions],

1. Resolved, That whosoever directly or indirectly abetted [helped], or in any way, form, or manner, countenanced [supported] the unchartered and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this County, to America, and to the inherent [inseparable] and inalienable [absolute; not transferable] rights of man. 2. Resolved, That we the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the Mother Country, and hereby absolve [release] ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown,

Who is the audience? (1)

Who is in rebellion? (1)

What do they state are annulled? (1)

What are they claiming has been taken away? (2)

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What do the citizens of Mecklenburg County want to do with Britain? (3)

Why are they angry with Britain? (3)

What do they declare? (4)

Who do they claim with govern them? (4)

What do they state they will do to any British law? (5)

What are the expectations for each delegate and reinstated military officers? (6)

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and abjure [reject; renounce] all political connection, contract, or association, with that Nation, who have wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of American patriots at Lexington.

3. Resolved, That we do hereby declare [officially state] ourselves a free and independent people, are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self‐governing Association, under the control of no power other than that of our God and the General Government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual cooperation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor.

4. Resolved, That as we now acknowledge the existence and control of no law or legal officer, civil or military, within this County, we do hereby ordain [establish] and adopt, as a rule of life, all, each and every of our former laws ‐ where, nevertheless, the Crown of Great Britain never can be considered as holding rights, privileges, immunities, or authority therein.

Wh5. Resolved, That it is also further decreed [ordered], that all, each and every military officer in this County, is hereby reinstated to his former command and authority, he acting conformably to these regulations, and that every member present of this delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer, viz. a Justice of the Peace, in the character of a ʹCommittee‐man,ʹ to issue process, hear and determine all matters of controversy, according to said adopted laws, and to preserve peace, and union, and harmony, in said County, and to use every exertion to spread the love of country and fire of freedom throughout America, until a more general and organized government be established in this province.

General Questions:1. What is the purpose of this document?

2. What is the central idea of the document?

Part II: The Second Step to NC IndependenceIt’s been months since the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord and British actions towards limiting liberties across the colonies have only become worse. The movement toward independence is alive and well.

North Carolina is once again leading the way and calling for independence especially after the Battle of Moores Creek in February of 1776. In April 1776, the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina meet in Halifax County to discuss colonial independence from Great Britain.

On April 12, 1776, the Halifax Resolves passed and hence, authorized the North Carolina delegates to vote for independence to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The North Carolina delegates were William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn. It wasn’t too long after, July 4, 1776, that the Continental Congress declared their independence from Britain. The war has officially begun.

The Halifax Resolves (April 12, 1776)

The Select Committee taking into Consideration the usurpations [wrongful acts] and violences attempted and committed by the King and Parliament of Britain against America, and the further Measures to be taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defense of this province reported as follows, to wit [to say],

It appears to your Committee that pursuant to the Plan concerted by the British Ministry for subjugating [taking by force; enslaving] America, the King and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a Power over the Persons and Properties of the People unlimited and uncontrolled; and disregarding their humble Petitions for Peace, Liberty and safety, have made divers [several] Legislative Acts, denouncing War Famine and every Species of Calamity [disaster] against the Continent in General. That British Fleets and Armies have been and still are daily employed in destroying the People and committing the most horrid devastations on the Country. That Governors in different Colonies have declared Protection to Slaves who should imbrue [stain] their Hands in the Blood of their Masters. That the Ships belonging to America are declared prizes of War and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated in consequence of which multitudes of the people have been destroyed or from easy Circumstances reduced to the most Lamentable [regrettable] distress.

And whereas the moderation hitherto [until now have] manifested [shown] by the United Colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled [to be in agreement] to the mother Country on Constitutional Principles, have procured [obtained] no mitigation [easing] of the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations, and no hopes remain of obtaining redress [to fix]by those Means alone which have been hitherto tried, Your Committee are of Opinion that the house should enter into the following Resolve to wit,

Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be empowered to concur [agree]with the delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming

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Who is the Select Committee? (1)

Why is the Select Committee upset? (1)

List their complaints about the King and the Parliament of Great Britain. (2)

Has Britain tried to fix their wrongdoings against the Colonies? (3)

List want the Colony wants to do with the other Colonies. (4)

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foreign Alliances, reserving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general Representation thereof) to meet the delegates of the other Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.

General Questions:What is the purpose of the document?

What is the central idea of the document?

Compare and Contrast:What are the similarities and differences between the Meck/Dec and the Halifax Resolves?

Meck/Dec Similarities Halifax Resolves