The Edenton Tea Party
On October 25, 1774, a group of 51 women in Edenton, North Carolina, under the leadership of Penelope Barker, drafted a resolution to boycott British imports, including tea and cloth. They sent their final signed resolution off to England. Although less well-known than the Boston Tea Party, this act demonstrated extraordinary courage by the women, who did not hide their identities and signed their real names.
Questions to Consider During Research:
- What was happening in the colonies in the months that lead up to this event? How did those events and actions cause or influence this event?
- How did the Edenton women take responsibility for their
actions? How did this differ from the participants of the Boston Tea Party? - How might the Edenton Tea Party be seen as a part of
the broader movement for rights and liberties during the
colonial period?
Sources to get you started:
Image Source:
Robert Sayer and John Bennett (Firm), and Philip Dawe. Mezzotint. 1775. A society of patriotic ladies, at Edenton in North Carolina. London: Printed for R. Sayer & J. Bennett. Item PC 1-5284B, British Cartoon Prints Collection, Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96511606/