Halifax Resolves and the Road to Revolution

The Dive

By the mid-1700s, tensions between Britain and its American colonies were heating up. Laws like the Stamp Act (1765) and Townshend Acts (1767) taxed colonists without giving them a voice in Parliament, fueling the idea of “no taxation without representation.” In North Carolina, resistance was both vocal and physical, from protests to boycotts of British goods.

In 1774, representatives from North Carolina joined other colonies at the First Continental Congress, agreeing to cut trade with Britain until taxes and restrictions were lifted. But Britain doubled down—sending more troops, passing harsher laws, and threatening colonial leaders. By 1775, open fighting had begun at Lexington and Concord, and North Carolina was drawn deeper into the conflict.

The Mecklenburg Resolves of May 31, 1775, issued by Mecklenburg County leaders, boldly rejected Parliament’s authority and set up local self-rule. While not an outright declaration of independence, it was an important step toward breaking away from Britain. Legends about the earlier ‘Mecklenburg Declaration’ persist, but historians agree the Resolves were the real historical document.

In February 1776, the Patriot victory at Moores Creek Bridge crushed Loyalist forces in North Carolina, boosting confidence that independence was possible. Just two months later, on April 12, 1776, 83 delegates met in Halifax for the Fourth Provincial Congress and adopted the Halifax Resolves—authorizing their delegates in Philadelphia to vote for independence and form foreign alliances.

The Halifax Resolves mattered because they were the first official action by any colony calling for complete separation from Britain. They weren’t just about North Carolina—they urged all colonies to unite in declaring independence. Copies were sent to the Second Continental Congress, adding pressure that eventually led to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

The language of the Resolves accused the King and Parliament of ‘usurpations’—seizing power over the people’s lives and property without consent. They cited violent attacks, economic ruin, and even offers of freedom to enslaved people willing to fight for Britain as proof that reconciliation was impossible. These arguments reflected Enlightenment ideals about natural rights and the consent of the governed.

By studying the Halifax Resolves, we see how North Carolina moved from protest to rebellion, and from rebellion to revolution. It’s a reminder that independence wasn’t a sudden decision on July 4—it was the result of years of building arguments, forging alliances, and deciding, finally, that liberty was worth the risk.

Why It Matters

The Halifax Resolves show that independence wasn’t just a Northern idea—it was driven by colonies across America, including the South. North Carolina’s bold move helped push the Continental Congress toward declaring independence for all thirteen colonies, proving that local decisions can shape national history.