NORTH CAROLINA. The name of one of the original states of the United States of America.
The territory which now forms this state was in cluded in the grant made in 1663 by Charles II., to Lord Clarendon and others, of a much more exten sive country. The boundaries were enlarged by a new charter granted by the same prince to the same proprietaries in the year 1665. By this charter the proprietaries were authorized to make laws, with the assent of the freemen of the' province or their delegates, and they were invested with va rious other powers. Being dissatisfied with the form of government, the proprietaries procured the celebrated John Locke to draw up a plan of gov ernment for the colony, which was adopted, and proved to be impracticable: it was highly excep tionable on account of its disregard of of religious toleration and national liberty, which are now universally admitted. After a few years of
unsuccessful operation it was abandoned. The col ony, had been settled at two points, one called the Northern and the other the Southern settlement, which were governed by separate legislatures. In 1729 the proprietaries surrendered their charter, when It became a royal piovince, and was governed by' a commission and a form' of government in sub stance similar' to' that established in other royal provinces. In 1732 the territory was divided, and the divisions assumed the names of North Carolina and Sbuth Carolina.
A constitution was adopted December 18, 1776. To this constitution amendments were made in conven tion June 4, 1835, which were ratified by the people, and took effect on January 1, 1836. There was a second constitution in 1868, and an amended con stitution in 1876.