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Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

1876- May 20 celebration

Two newspaper articles discuss the planning and execution of the 101st celebration of Mecklenburg Declaration.

Southern Home: 4/24/1876 p. 3 and  5/22/1876

 

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Harper’s Weekly 6/12/1875, p. 476

The national magazine, Harper's Weekly, sent a reporter and an artist to Charlotte, NC, to document the centennial celebration of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The text of the article is given below, and you may also view a scan of the original page.

MECKLENBURG

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1875

1875 Centennial Celebration

Two newspaper articles discussed the centennial of the Mecklenburg Declaration.

"Centennial Scraps," Southern Home, 5/31/1875 and "Mother to Daughter" Southern Home, 6/21/1875

Centennial Scraps

BY THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR.

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1874

Two newspaper articles below describe the observance of the Mecklenburg Decarlation of Independence in 1874.

 

 The Southern Home , 5/25/1874, p. 3

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1873


Three articles from the year 1873 testify to the muted celebrations of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence during the Reconstruction years.


The Southern Home 5/26/1873, p. 3

20TH MAY IN CHARLOTTE

This day which ought to be so dear to all North Carolinas, was only observed by the Fire Companies, the "Independents," and the Hornets." They made a handsome display on the streets and then repaired to the Hall of the Independents, where a banquet had been prepared.

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1867

Daily Carolina Times 5/16/1867 p. 3
Firemen’s Ball.

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Secession-1861

May 20th, 1861, was chosen as the date for the state of North Carolina to secede from the Union. North Carolinians met at a convention on May 20, 1861,  to declare themselves free from the United States government. They adopted this state flag on June 22, 1861, indicating a declaration of independence from the United States government on the 86th anniversary of Mecklenburg's supposed declaration of independence from the British government.

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Parade-1859

The Daily Bulletin 5/17/1859 p.3

(some material edited for clarity)

CELEBRATION

20th May, 1859. – The HORNETS NEST RIFLEMEN having made arrangements for celebrating the 84th Anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, propose for the occasion the following PROGRAMME:

ORDER OF THE DAY:

At Sunrise, a Federal Salute of 12 Guns will be fired, and the National Flag displayed, at the PUBLIC SQUARE.

At 9 ¼ o’clock, the Visiting Military Companies will be received at the DEPOT.

ORDER OF BATTALION:

Rowan Artillery

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1857 - Oration on the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

The Western Democrat of May 26, 1857, reported on the festivities surrounding the anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. As part of that report, it reprinted a detailed and passionate defense of Mecklenburg's Declaration of Independence offered by orator Francis Lister Hawks.

The Celebration

In Charlotte, N.C., May 20th, 1857

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1843 - Poetry

On May 16, 1843, the Mecklenburg Jeffersonian published this poem, apparently a revision of the 1842 poem on the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, although this one signed.


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