Halifax Resolves
{{short description|1776 resolution adopted by North Carolina}}
Image:Flag of North Carolina.svg commemorates the Halifax Resolves by bearing the date of its adoption: April 12, 1776.]]
The Halifax Resolves was a name later given to the resolution adopted by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on April 12, 1776. The adoption of the resolution was the first official action in the American Colonies calling for independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. The Halifax Resolves helped pave the way for the presentation to Congress of the United States Declaration of Independence less than three months later.
Background
The creation and ratification of the resolves was the result of a strong movement in the colonies advocating separation from Great Britain. These separatists, or "American Whigs" (later, "Patriots"), sought to mobilize public support for a much discussed and all encompassing declaration of independence.[http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchistory/apr2007/index.html This Month in North Carolina History: Halifax Resolves]; April 2007 news article; University of North Carolina Library; retrieved April 2013[http://prioris.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/history/history.htm#Halifax_NC The Halifax Resolves] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040707080736/http://prioris.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/history/history.htm#Halifax_NC |date=2004-07-07 }}; "North Carolina State History" online; retrieved April 2013 The primary impediment to an outright declaration of independence from Great Britain was that none of the delegates to the Second Continental Congress were authorized by their home governments to take any action that would lead to such a declaration. Advocates of independence therefore sought to revise the instructions to each congressional delegation and remove any restrictions regarding a declaration of independence.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
History
The resolution of April 12, 1776, became known as the Halifax Resolves because the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina adopted them while meeting in the town of Halifax, North Carolina. The 83 delegates present unanimously adopted the resolves, which encouraged delegates to the Continental Congress from all the colonies to finally push for independence. The adoption of the Halifax Resolves was the first official action in the colonies calling for independence from Great Britain.{{cite web|url=http://ncpedia.org/history/usrevolution/halifax-resolves|title=Halifax Resolves | website=ncpedia.org|access-date=October 3, 2019}}, from North Carolina Manual, 2012; Kelly Agan, Government & Heritage Library, 2017
Drive to independence
The Halifax Resolves only empowered North Carolina's three delegates to the Second Continental Congress (Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn) to join with those from other colonies to declare independence from Great Britain's rule.
With the passage of the resolves, North Carolina became the first colony to explicitly permit their delegates to vote in favor of independence.[http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-revolution/4328 NC History]; article at "Learn NC" online; retrieved December 15, 2012 The Halifax Resolves, however, stopped short of instructing North Carolina's delegates to introduce a resolution of independence to Congress, a step which was taken by Virginia in June with the adoption of the Lee ResolutionNote: The Lee Resolution was adopted at the Virginia Provincial Convention of June 7, 1776. The Second Continental Congress issued the United States Declaration of Independence the following month, in July.
Legacy
Every year, on April 12, the Halifax Historic District, a historic site operated by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, celebrates Halifax Day. Interpreters in period costumes provide guided tours of historic buildings, demonstrate historic crafts and teach about colonial activities. Occasionally, reenactors portray revolutionary-era soldiers and demonstrate the use of historic weapons during the Halifax Day events.[http://www.nchistoricsites.org/halifax/ Halifax Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217211304/http://www.nchistoricsites.org/halifax/ |date=2018-12-17 }}; "North Carolina Historic Sites" online; retrieved April 2013
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikisource|Halifax Resolves}}
- [http://www.halifax.nchistoricsites.org Historic Halifax]
- [https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr10-0250 Journal of the Provincial Congress at Halifax]
{{United States topics}}
{{United States Declaration of Independence}}
{{American Revolutionary War}}
{{American Revolution origins|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1776 in the United States
Category:Documents of the American Revolution
Category:Halifax County, North Carolina