Every year on May 20th, Charlotte celebrates Meck Dec Day – a day to remember the fact that we were the first city in America to declare our independence from England.
In 1775, the 13 British Colonies in North America considered breaking from Great Britain. As word of the Boston Tea Party spread through North Carolina, people in Mecklenburg County decided to meet. Colonel Thomas Polk, commander of Charlotte’s Militia, led the meeting, which included representatives from nine local militia groups. The meeting’s decisions would be binding for all Mecklenburg citizens.
On Friday, May 19, 1775, while meeting at the courthouse, an express rider reported that British soldiers had killed citizens at Lexington and Concord. Consequently, they wrote five resolutions, now known as “The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence,” declaring their separation from Great Britain.
The resolutions stated that Great Britain had “wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of American patriots at Lexington.” They also declared, “We dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the Mother country,” and “We declare ourselves a free and independent people.” Finally, they asserted, “The Crown of Great Britain never can be considered as holding rights, privileges, immunities, or authority therein.” View the complete text of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence here.
They read the declaration from the courthouse steps at noon to a large gathering of Mecklenburg County citizens. News of Lexington and Concord increased interest, and people came from all over North Carolina. Since the decisions were binding on all citizens, attendance was significant.
Next, they decided to revise the declaration to make it more organized and coherent. They appointed a committee, and by May 31, “The Mecklenburg Resolves” was complete. This new document was less emotional, more logical, and better organized. Read the complete text of the Mecklenburg Resolves here.
On June 1, 1775, Militia Captain James Jack rode to Philadelphia to deliver both documents to the Second Continental Congress. The North Carolina representatives read and approved the documents. However, at that time, Congress was approving a petition to the King asking for reconciliation. The citizens of Mecklenburg County remained the only free people until the rest of America declared independence on July 4, 1776.
