Editing Halifax Resolves

{{short description|1776 resolution adopted by North Carolina}}
[[Image:Flag of North Carolina.svg|thumb|right|275px|The [[Flag of North Carolina]] 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 (law)|resolution]] adopted by the [[North Carolina Provincial Congress]] on April 12, 1776. The adoption of the resolution was the first official action in the [[Thirteen Colonies|American Colonies]] calling for independence from [[Kingdom of Great Britain|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 [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]].  These separatists, or "[[Patriot (American Revolution)|American Whig]]s" (later, "Patriots"), sought to mobilize public support for a much discussed and all encompassing declaration of independence.<ref>[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</ref><ref>[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</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.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

==History==
The resolution of April 12, 1776, became known as the Halifax Resolves because the [[North Carolina Provincial Congress|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">{{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</ref>

==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 (delegate)|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">[http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-revolution/4328 ''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 [[Colony of Virginia|Virginia]] in June with the adoption of the [[Lee Resolution]]<ref name="NCPedia"/><ref>Note: The Lee Resolution was adopted at the [[Fifth Virginia Convention|Virginia Provincial Convention]] of June 7, 1776.</ref> The [[Second Continental Congress]] issued the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] the following month, in July.<!--{{cn|date=April 2017}} akin to "Paris is the capital of France" .. who doesn't know that US Independence Day is July 4?-->

==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.<ref>[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</ref>

==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]]
[[Category:North Carolina in the American Revolution]]
[[Category:United States documents]]