Proud American citizens know our country would not be what it is today without the events of July 4, 1776. On this important day, the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. But the journey to get to that point was not an easy one. It all started one year earlier on April 19, 1775 with the start of the American Revolutionary War.

 

1775 was a brutal year for the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Bunker Hill, the occupation of Montreal, the burning of Norfolk, and the Snow Campaign of South Carolina all took place during that year. Despite the fact that George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army, the situation did not improve at the start of 1776. For those reasons, the leaders of the colonies began to make even more impactful decisions.

 

Out of the thirteen original colonies involved in the American Revolutionary War, North Carolina was the first to take action towards ending the war and gaining independence from Great Britain. On April 12, 1776, North Carolina’s Fourth Provincial Congress made history in the little county of Halifax, North Carolina. All 83 delegates present at this meeting signed the Halifax Resolves document, which recommended independence from Great Britain.

 

In addition to recommending independence, the Halifax Resolves encouraged the other colonies to do the same. More specifically, this document was aimed at the colonial delegates that would be assembled at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Furthermore, it gave three specific delegates, John Hewes, William Hooper, and John Penn, the power to vote on behalf of North Carolina for independence at the Continental Congress, should a vote take place.

 

Unfortunately, a vote did not take place, but that does not diminish the impact of the Halifax Resolves. Following the signing of this document, the other colonies began to follow North Carolina’s example. Less than three months later, the United States officially declared its independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776.