From the Halifax Resolves: Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental Congress be impowered to concur with the other delegates of the other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign Alliances, resolving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general Representation thereof to meet the delegates of the other Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.

You have frequently seen North Carolina license plates proclaiming “First in Flight” due to the Wright brothers' flight at Kitty Hawk. You may have also seen a few boasting “First in Freedom”, with two dates: May 20, 1775, and April 12, 1776. Why is that appellation given to North Carolina and not Massachusetts or Pennsylvania? And, what is the significance of those two dates? ====== An error occurred. ====== Unable to execute JavaScript. Fife and Drum Corps engenders the patriotic colonial spirit It is important to begin with the understanding that the Revolutionary War did not commence in 1776. There is much that fomented over the years and eventually led to the decision on July 4th to declare independence. Here is a brief timeline: (dates specific to North Carolina are in bold). 1754  French and Indian Wars were costly for Britain which later taxed the colonists to pay for these war expenses; 1756-1763 Seven Years War was also costly for Britain, although conducted in Europe rather than the American colonies. July 10, 1754  Benjamin Franklin proposed a single government for the colonies. April 5, 1764 Britain passed the Sugar Act, which taxed sugar, wine, and coffee and also restricted colonial trade in such. March 22 and 24, 1765 Britain passed the Stamp Act (taxing paper goods and legal documents) and the Quartering Act (requiring colonists to house and provide supplies for British soldiers). March 18, 1766 Britain repealed the Stamp Act but then issued the Declaratory Act reinforcing its right to rule over and tax the colonists. 1768 Farmers in North Carolina organized themselves as “regulators” or ones who regulate officials to prevent the overuse of their power. In 1770, angered over the abuse of their natural rights, they stormed the courthouse in Hillsborough. May 1771 North Carolina Governor Tryon ordered his militia to put down the regulator rebellion which resulted in the Battle of Alamance. March 5, 1770 Boston Massacre May 10, 1773 Britain granted the East India Company exclusive rights to sell tea to the colonies via the Tea Act. This increased the cost of tea for Americans which led to the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. May 20, 1774 In punishment for the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passed the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts closing Boston Harbor, making legal trials more difficult as the British-appointed governor could move the trial out of the state or even to England, preventing representative government in Massachusetts, and enhancing demands under the Quartering Act. September 10, 1774 The North Carolina Provincial Deputies resolved to boycott British tea and cloth. October 8, 1774 Edenton Tea Party where 50 ladies of Edenton, North Carolina, formed an alliance, refused to drink tea (turned their teacups upside down), and wrote a letter of protest to King George III.  April 19, 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord May 20, 1775 Controversy surrounds the Mecklenburg (Charlotte, North Carolina) Declaration of Independence because the original copy does not exist, but common knowledge asserts that 27 men signed the first demand for independence. August 14, 1775 Tryon Alliance (Tryon County, North Carolina) of 56 men signed their Declaration of Rights and Independence from British Tyranny. The Tryon Resolves did not request independence but still sought reconciliation, yet the signers agreed to resist unjust laws with arms if necessary. ====== An error occurred. ====== Unable to execute JavaScript. A Reenactment of the Tryon Resolves meeting The opening statement of the Tryon Resolves: The unprecedented, barbarous and bloody actions committed by British troops on our American brethren near Boston, on 19th April and 20th of May last, together with the hostile operations and treacherous designs now carrying on, by the tools of the ministerial vengeance, for the subjugation of all British America, suggest to us the painful necessity of having recourse to arms in defense of our National freedom and constitutional rights… April 12, 1776 North Carolina Provincial Congress adopted the Halifax Resolves (meeting in Halifax) which was the first document to declare independence from Britain. This was not a signed document but merely entered into the minutes of the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina. It did, though, authorize delegates to the Continental Congress (soon to meet in Philadelphia) to support independence. In 1765, the Virginia House of Burgesses passed resolves challenging the Stamp Act, but because they did not declare independence, North Carolina (whether from the Mecklenburg Declaration or the Halifax Resolves) was the first colony (state) to actually call for a severance from the rule of Britain. These documents and actions had a significant influence on the other states. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, attend events in your area that celebrate the history of our state leading up to the 4th of July. America 250 North Carolina includes a comprehensive calendar of these events.  Let us continue to be FIRST IN FREEDOM with our COS resolves. Exercise your rights under Article V of the Constitution and engage today as patriots in the COS movement by signing the petition (link) and becoming a volunteer (link). Suzanne McPherson COS NC Volunteer Activist, Mentor, and State Content Writer