Edenton 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.

Edenton tea party. Many americans have heard of the boston tea party of 1773. Satirical drawing depicting the edenton tea party published in a london newspaper in march 1775. Elizabeth king fifty one women in edenton north carolina. It was a bold demonstration of patriotism and a unique example of political organization by colonial women.

This memorial marks the spot where the women of edenton gathered in 1774 to protest the british tax on tea. But further south another tea rebellion soon boiled over. 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. 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.

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. In the late 19th century a local edenton historian re invented the actions of the edenton women as a tea party. Far less can tell of the edenton tea party of 1774. The edenton tea party background.

The edenton tea party is remembered as the first political movement organized solely by women in the colonies. The teapot is highly decorated. Image courtesy of the north carolina office of archives and history raleigh north carolina. In the 1760s the british government needed to find new ways to pay for their costly victory in the french.

The marker is a 250 pound cast bronze teapot with an upright revolutionary war era cannon serving as the base. Tea was the most popular drink in the english colonies and anger over the tea act of 1773 did not. When you think of tea parties preceding the american revolution everyone recalls the famous incident in boston harbor on december 16 1773. It didn t take long for the news of the boston uprising to reach the bustling inland port of edenton north carolina.

Since then it has remained known as the edenton tea party although it very likely did not involve tea or a party. The women signed and mailed the document to england and the action has since became known as the edenton tea party. The edenton tea party was one of the earliest organized women s political actions in united states history.