Edenton Ladies Tea Party

The edenton tea party in 1774 fifty women in edenton north carolina signed and published a statement declaring their intention to boycott all british goods.

Edenton ladies tea party. The edenton tea party was a political protest in edenton north carolina in response to the tea act passed by the british parliament in 1773. An enlarged copy of a famous london caricature of penelope and her edenton tea party hangs in the entry hall. Protesters in boston disguised themselves to remain anonymous but these women boldly owned up to their actions and beliefs by signing their real names on their petition. Elizabeth king fifty one women in edenton north carolina.

The fifty one women are portrayed with masculine features and representative of various social backgrounds including a female slave. The edenton tea party was one of the earliest organized women s political actions in united states history. Barker rallied 50 women in edenton north carolina to sign a resolution boycotting british tea. The women drew up resolves declaring their intention to boycott english tea and english cloth a momentous step for colonists who relied on tea and other british goods.

Chowan county courthouse 1767. A loyal patriot of the american revolution penelope barker organized the famous edenton tea party the first recorded women s political demonstration in america. The image is called a society of patriotic ladies and was drawn by philip dawe. The move was made in response to the 1773 tea act passed by parliament which gave the british east india tea company a monopoly in the colonies and was the last in a series of taxes and policies that colonists fiercely resented.

Penelope barker organized at the home of mrs. Inspired by the boston tea party and the calls for tea boycotts and the resolutions of the first north carolina provincial congress 51 women led by penelope barker met on october 25 1774 and signed a statement of protest vowing to give up tea and boycott other british products until such time that all acts which tend to enslave our native country s. On october 25 1774 mrs. This cartoon is a satirical interpretation of the edenton tea party and appeared in a london newspaper on march 25 1775.

It was the first women s public collective political action in american history. A group in north carolina were lampooned by a british cartoonist as the edenton ladies tea party when they dared to sign a pledge to support colonial resistance to british measures including a. Barker of this edenton lady of north distinction carolina de patriot of the american revolution. The edenton tea party is remembered as the first political movement organized solely by women in the colonies.