Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, signed on May 20, 1775, is a cherished—and debated—piece of Charlotte’s revolutionary history.
 
According to tradition, a band of local leaders wrote the document after hearing about the murder of colonists at the Battles of Concord and Lexington. Fed up with the injustice and oppressive laws of the monarchy, they declared themselves free and independent of British rule. This would be the first declaration of independence – predating the national Declaration of Independence by more than a year.
 
There is some doubt surrounding the document’s existence however, with some historians debating that the text was actual a part of the Mecklenburg Resolves, a set of anti-British resolutions.
 
Nevertheless, the story of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence provides an interesting look at the history of the revolution in Mecklenburg County. Every year on May 20, Charlotte commemorates the Mecklenburg Declaration with Meck Dec Day, a vibrant celebration of local history and patriotism. The event takes place at Independence Square, where costumed reenactors bring the 18th century to life with dramatic readings, musket salutes, and colonial-era festivities.