Halifax Resolves
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.
BackgroundEdit
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.<ref>This Month in North Carolina History: Halifax Resolves; April 2007 news article; University of North Carolina Library; retrieved April 2013</ref><ref>The Halifax Resolves Template:Webarchive; "North Carolina State History" online; retrieved April 2013</ref> 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.Template:Citation needed
HistoryEdit
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.<ref name="NCPedia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}, from North Carolina Manual, 2012; Kelly Agan, Government & Heritage Library, 2017</ref>
Drive to independenceEdit
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.<ref name ="NC"/><ref name="NCPedia"/>
With the passage of the resolves, North Carolina became the first colony to explicitly permit their delegates to vote in favor of independence.<ref name ="NC">NC History; article at "Learn NC" online; retrieved December 15, 2012</ref> The Halifax Resolves, however, stopped short of instructing North Carolina's delegates to introduce a resolution of independence to Congress,<ref name ="NC"/> a step which was taken by Virginia in June with the adoption of the Lee Resolution<ref name="NCPedia"/><ref>Note: The Lee Resolution was adopted at the Virginia Provincial Convention of June 7, 1776.</ref> The Second Continental Congress issued the United States Declaration of Independence the following month, in July.
LegacyEdit
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.<ref>Halifax Day Template:Webarchive; "North Carolina Historic Sites" online; retrieved April 2013</ref>
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:United States topics Template:United States Declaration of Independence Template:American Revolutionary War Template:American Revolution origins Template:Authority control