The American Revolution gave rise to the name Independence Square. Charlotte made its own declaration of defiance against Britain in May 1775, over a year before Patriot leaders penned the Declaration of Independence. On May 31, 1775, the Mecklenburg Resolves proclaimed the "authority of the King or Parliament" to be "null and void."
According to tradition, on May 20, 1775, a comprehensive Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was drafted. Nevertheless, there are no copies of the document, and it was never printed in any Colonial newspapers or other documents. Despite the lack of tangible evidence, the Meck Dec is celebrated annually on May 20 in the city
