Title: The first American Declaration of Independence? : the disputed history of the Mecklenburg Declaration of May 20, 1775 /
Authors: Syfert, Scott.
Year: 2014
Subjects: Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.; Mecklenburg County (N.C.) Politics and government; North Carolina Politics and government; United States Politics and government.
Abstract: "This is a comprehensive history of one of the greatest mysteries in American history--did Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, declare independence from Great Britain more than a year before anyone else? This book sets out all of the evidence, pro and con"--
Contents: Prologue: "One of the deepest mysteries" -- Part I. Life in the Carolina backcountry (1663-1775) -- "Always insolent to their governors" : the rule of the Lords Proprietors -- "People of desperate fortune" : the Scots-Irish settle Mecklenburg County -- "Highly injured and aggrieved" : Alexander Craighead and the Presbyterians -- "Brutal sons of bitches" : Thomas Polk and the Sugar Creek War -- Part II. High treason (1775-1781) -- "General frenzy" : Polk summons a meeting -- "Fury and revenge" : May 19, 1775 -- "There was not a dissenting voice" : the Mecklenburg Declaration is made -- "A rash act" : treason and second thoughts -- "I set out the following month, say June" : the ride of Captain James Jack -- The empire strikes back : "A most treasonable publication...in Mecklenburg" -- Part III. Opening arguments (1817-1829) -- From beyond the grave : the "copy in an unknown hand" -- "He has copied the spirit, the sense, and the expressions of it verbatim" : John Adams accuses Thomas Jefferson of plagiarism -- "I believe it spurious" : Thomas Jefferson, original Mecklenburg Declaration skeptic -- Part IV. The Mecklenburg controversy (1829-2012) -- "Solemn proof" : John McKnitt Alexander's version of the story -- "Independence lang before any body else" : eyewitnesses and local legends -- "All former laws are now wholly suspended" : the Mecklenburg Resolves confuse everybody -- Tampering with the evidence : Charles Phillips and the Davie copy -- Death by a thousand cuts : the case against the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence -- "The faithful disperse" : the controversy fizzles out -- Part V. Clues and explanations -- Red herrings, forgery and the case against Jefferson -- "Frey u. independent von England" : the Moravian explanation -- Occam's razor : summing up the case for the Mecklenburg Declaration.