A post at the end of May looked at colonial North Carolina and how the Mecklenburg and Halifax Resolves were like bookends of political sentiment among the populace in the journey to American freedom. Let's look at the timeline of extra-legal assembly that was happening in 1774- 1776.  First Provincial Congress: New Bern, August 25, 1774 - No more complaining. Resist! Bear in mind that all thirteen colonies had just spent the spring of 1774 looking on as Britain imposed the five coercive acts that stripped more and more representation and freedom from the colonists of Massachusetts. They watched Boston suffer and pushed back to avoid the same fate. In North Carolina, this meant trying to make nice with Britain with conciliatory language while simultaneously gearing up to participate with other colonies in the upcoming Continental Congress (Fall of 1774). The First Provincial Congress adopted a statement to Britain and the King, a document called the New Bern Resolves that whi...

Britain had spent the better portion of 1774 trying to squelch all dissent and rebellion in the colonies by making Massachusetts the scapegoat and example in their hard line drawn with the Intolerable Acts . The Acts had the exact opposite effect. The other colonies were wat ching and sensing that they would suffer equal harshness soon enough. Rather than standing by, the other colonies acted in support of Massachusetts by engaging in boycotts of British goods. They sent aid and support to Boston and they began organizing and holding clandestine meetings to discuss their dissent and possible actions. They were,  in effect,  forming a shadow government. This was occurring widely across all thirteen colonies.   "Halifax Resolves mural" by Francis Vandeveer Kughler. Source   In North Carolina, these clandestine meetings led to two very important documents written in the year leading up to the Revolution. The documents are the Mecklenburg Resolves made May 31, 1775, and ...

April 12, 1776 marks an important day in American and NC history. In the small eastern town of Halifax, North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Assembly gathered and authorized its three delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence. Their thoughts and "resolves" were added to the minutes of their meeting. This was the first official action by any of the thirteen colonies on the road to independence and self-determination. This is how North Carolina became "first in freedom". It is one thing to read about the history it is another all together to watch in unfold "as if" in real time. Halifax, NC is very close to Raleigh and this makes a nice day trip or weekend getaway.  Do youself a favor and make plans to attend this special living history event. I promise you will be touched by the history of the experience. Halifax is like our own little pocket sized Williamsburg! Halifax Days 2024 photo by C. Deal The 250th anniversary of the Halifax R...