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Colonial North Carolina

Edenton Tea Party: An American First

1664-1775

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, we see that many events contributed to the nation's declaration of independence. This article tells us about the women's political resistance of Oct. 25, 1774.

Political Documents

Penelope Barker (1728 – 1796)

1664-1775

Penelope Barker (1728–1796) was a remarkable woman. She is known for organizing what is called the Edenton Tea Party. On October 25, 1774, she persuaded fifty women to support fellow colonists in their resistance to British taxation. In a formal statement, the 51 ladies promised not to drink tea or wear English linen.

Commentary
Federalist

N.C. Has a Long History as Battleground State

1776-1835

The 2024 electoral cycle once again showed that North Carolina is a battleground state. But this should not be surprising—it has often been divided over important issues. This article begins with the Constitutional Convention in1787.

Colonial North Carolina

Wilmington Tea Party

1664-1775

A public and political action by Wilmington women, the Wilmington Tea Party occurred sometime between March 25 and April 5, 1774.  It was one of the many tax protests that swept the American colonies after the Boston Tea Party of December 16, 1773.

The Wilmington Coup

The Wilmington Insurrection of 1898 is the only successful coup d’état in American history. The event was the first and only time in this country that a lawfully elected government was overthrown by a violent force motivated by racism. The Wilmington Insurrection, now often called the Wilmington Coup but historically called the Wilmington Race Riot,...

Royal Proclamation of 1763

Issued by the British following the conclusion of the French and Indian War, the Proclamation of 1763 was a significant factor in the cultivation of revolutionary fervor but one that has been somewhat neglected. The proclamation was an attempt by the British not only to prevent colonists from migrating westward but to stabilize relations with...

The Race to the Dan 

The “Race to the Dan” is the name given to the competition between Patriot and British forces as they tried to reach the Dan River that flows along the border of North Carolina and Virginia. This race took place in early 1781, over the months between two key battles that shaped the Southern Campaign and...

Commentary
Early America

Joseph Hewes and the Navy

1664-1775

Joseph Hewes is best known as one of North Carolina’s three signers of the Declaration of Independence. But he also played an important role in the creation of the U.S. Navy. In fact, a World War II transport ship, the U.S.S. Joseph Hewes, was named for him, and so was a frigate deployed in the...

African American

Latta University

1836-1865

The Rev. Morgan L. Latta was the founder and president of Latta University, located in Oberlin Village, which is now part of Raleigh, North Carolina. Born in 1853, he was enslaved on the Cameron Plantation in Durham County. Fifty years later (in 1903) Latta published his autobiography, which tells, among many things, about how he...

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History in the News

Carolina Journal

Carolina Journal wins 15 awards in annual NC Press Association contest

Carolina Journal took home an impressive haul in the 2025 North Carolina Press Association (NCPA) Awards, earning 15 accolades across multiple categories for its excellence in investigative journalism, editorial commentary, multimedia storytelling, and innovative digital strategy.

Carolina Journal

Independence, if you can keep it

A culture that does not want to do the hard work of caring for themselves and those around them is not one that “can keep it.”

Carolina Journal

The spirit of 1776 lives on in today’s parental rights debates

More than 250 years ago, a group of women defied a distant government, demanding transparency and the right to make their own decisions. Today, mothers are once again standing up to challenge bureaucrats who presume to know what’s best for their families.