Edenton Tea Party 1774 By Ara Steel

Plan Outline The events that caused the Edenton Tea Party (The Boston Tea Party). The different reactions from Britain. Details of the Edenton Tea Party. Different attitudes towards women (Britain/America). How the American Revolutions created opportunities for women. Conclusion.

Focus Question: What were the ramifications of a women’s led protest (The Edenton Tea Party, 1774)?

Boston Tea Party: Causes & Consequences

Causes 10th of May 1773 the Tea Act is passed in British Parliament. The Boston Tea Party, 16th December 1773. Rebellion against British control sweeps colonies.

Consequences Britain closed off Boston Harbor, and imposed a new tax on all commodities going into America, Lead, Glass, Paint, and Tea. British soldiers posted in colonies to try and assert control. Colonies further outraged.

Edenton Tea Party 25th October 1774

Edenton Tea Party (1774) Boston Tea Party not the only colony to rebel against Tea Taxes. On the 25th of October 1774 Mrs. Penelope Barker arranged a meeting of 51 women at Mrs. Elizabeth King’s house, there to debate the consumption of British products. All women signed an oath outlining their promise to sustain from using British products, until such a time that Britain stopped being unreasonable.

“Maybe it has only been men who have protested the king up to now “Maybe it has only been men who have protested the king up to now. That only means we women have taken too long to let our voices be heard. We are signing our names to a document, not hiding ourselves behind costumes like the men in Boston did at their tea party. The British will know who we are.” Mrs. Penelope Barker, (about the signing of the oath)

‘As we cannot be indifferent on any occasion that appears nearly to affect the peace and happiness of our country, and as it has been thought necessary, for the public good, to enter into several particular resolves by a meeting of Members deputed from the whole Province, it is a duty which we owe, not only to our near and dear connections who have concurred in them, but to ourselves who are essentially interested in their welfare, to do every thing as far as lies in our power to testify our sincere adherence to the same; and we do therefore accordingly subscribe this paper, as a witness of our fixed intention and solemn determination to do so.’ Full pledge of the 51 Edenton Ladies, 25th October,1774

Response from Britain/America Once the news of the Edenton Ladies had reached Britain, newspapers delighted in making sarcastic remarks about the Ladies’ ability to stick their noses into political affairs. One example of this was the engraving of the meeting (next slide). In America they were hailed as strong and heroic characters for facing off against the strangling hold of Britain.

51 Edenton Ladies

“The only security on our side … is the probability that there are but few places in America which possess so much female artillery as Edenton.” Arthur Iredell, 1774

"No more shall my teapot so generous be In filling the cups with this pernicious tea, For I'll fill it with water and drink out the same Before I'll lose liberty that dearest name." American Newspaper celebrating the Edenton Tea Party

Women’s Rights? Life Before the American Revolutions: housewife, no rights, allowed to be beaten, bought up to raise children, cook, and clean. Life During the Revolutions: filling in for the men away at war as blacksmiths, ship builders, nurses, carpenters, cooks and cleaners on the front lines. Life After: men expected it to go back to the way it had been, however a precedent for women’s political involvement had been set.

Women on the Front Line

Conclusion The events that shaped the Edenton Tea Party started with the taxes passed by British Parliament. The Edenton Tea Party shocked the Western World, with the bold political activism of the American women. Edenton Ladies praised by America, scorned by Britain (e.g. Newspaper articles, caricatures ). The Edenton Tea Party is thought to have been the beginning of the fight for women’s rights in America.

Focus Question: Answered The sarcasm expressed in Britain towards the Edenton Tea Party was not only because the protest was anti-British, but also revealed rigid traditional attitudes towards women. Women’s activism in the Edenton Tea Party (1774) proved to other American colonies that women could and would participate in politics concerning their new homeland. The Edenton Tea Party was a break through for women in the sense it laid the foundations for women’s involvement in political affairs later on in America.

Memorial bronze teapot in Edenton to celebrate the 51 ‘Edenton Ladies’