In 1663, King Charles II of England granted a charter to eight proprietors, granting them all the land between latitudes 31° and 36° north, extending west to the South Seas (Pacific Ocean). This charter established Carolina as a proprietary colony, and it was the first successful settlement of what would become the North Carolina colony. Mattie Erma Edwards Parker and Redora Powell wrote about this in The Carolina Charter of 1663 (195).The settlers of North Carolina were a diverse group, often leading to internal disputes. North Carolina militias played an important role in the war effort, utilizing guerrilla warfare tactics.
Before settlers arrived, the Cherokee, Iroquois, and Muskogee tribes called North Carolina their home. North Carolina was one of the first two colonies, alongside Virginia, to propose independence to the Continental Congress. The state flag of North Carolina contains two dates that signify it as the first state to declare independence. North Carolina worked through political means to bring pro-revolution politicians into local offices; from there, they worked to gradually take control of the government of the larger colony.
In 1691, the proprietors divided Carolina into North Carolina and South Carolina, separating their governments and economies. North Carolina also played a key role in the War of Independence, harassing British forces and securing military victories with the Continental Army and guerrilla units. Religion has changed significantly since its creation as a colony.The settlers were particularly angry about taxes imposed by the British government, either ignoring or speaking out against them. They explored the region extensively before British colonization began.
Today, North Carolina's economy is largely driven by research in fields such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and banking.
