North Carolina Provincial Congress

The fourth congress approved the Halifax Resolves, the first resolution of one of United Colonies to call for American independence.

Five extra-legal unicameral bodies called the North Carolina Provincial Congresses met beginning in the summer of 1774.

These congresses created a government structure, issued bills of credit to pay for the movement, organized an army for defense, wrote a constitution and bill of rights that established the state of North Carolina, and elected their first acting governor in the fifth congress that met in 1776.

[2][3][4] Its moderator (president) was John Harvey, who was concurrently the last speaker of the Province of North Carolina General Assembly of 1775 House of Burgesses.

The first military action occurred on July 18 when patriots burned Fort Johnston, where Governor Martin had transferred his headquarters.

This congress, which included representatives of every county and town, officially established itself as the highest governmental body in the province (British Governor Martin had fled, ending royal government).

The congress divided the state into six military districts for purposes of organizing militia and for determining representation on the Council.

[2][8][4] This congress passed what became known as the Halifax Resolves, the first "official" endorsement of independence from Great Britain by one of the Thirteen Colonies.