3 War and independence
John Trumbull’s 1819 painting shows the Declaration of Independence being presented to Congress. Painting by John Trumbull, 1819. About the painting
In the spring of 1775, the organized protests in the colonies turned into organized war. Soon after, some revolutionary leaders began calling for a complete break with Britain — independence. Americans had come out of the French and Indian War in 1763 feeling pride in being a part of the greatest empire in the world. Now, barely a decade later, a majority of them wanted out.
North Carolinians were deeply divided in the War for Independence. In this chapter, you’ll explore their words and deeds as they fought each other, declared themselves an independent state, and set up a new government. Whether that government truly reflected the principles they claimed to fight for was debated at the time — and is still debated today.
- 3.1Timeline of the Revolution, 1775–1779
- 3.2Which side to take: Revolutionary or loyalist?
- 3.3The Mecklenburg Resolves
- 3.4"Liberty to slaves": The black response
- 3.5Lord Dunmore's Proclamation
- 3.6A Virginian responds to Dunmore's Proclamation
- 3.7The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
- 3.8Mary Slocumb at Moore's Creek Bridge
- 3.9A call for independence
- 3.10The Halifax Resolves
- 3.11The Declaration of Independence
- 3.12Plans for democracy
- 3.13Creed of a Rioter
- 3.14The North Carolina Constitution and Declaration of Rights
