Halifax Resolves

The Halifax Resolves helped pave the way for the presentation to Congress of the United States Declaration of Independence less than three months later.

These separatists, or "American Whigs" (later, "Patriots"), sought to mobilize public support for a much discussed and all encompassing declaration of independence.

[3] 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.

[4][3] With the passage of the resolves, North Carolina became the first colony to explicitly permit their delegates to vote in favor of independence.

[4] The Halifax Resolves, however, stopped short of instructing North Carolina's delegates to introduce a resolution of independence to Congress,[4] a step which was taken by Virginia in June with the adoption of the Lee Resolution[3][5] The Second Continental Congress issued the United States Declaration of Independence the following month, in July.

The Flag of North Carolina commemorates the Halifax Resolves by bearing the date of its adoption: April 12, 1776.