Daughters of Liberty facts for kids
The Daughters of Liberty was a group of brave women. They formed in 1765 to protest unfair British laws. These laws included the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts. The name also described any woman who fought for freedom during the American Revolution.
What They Did
The Daughters of Liberty worked hard to protest British laws. They helped the Sons of Liberty with boycotts. A boycott means refusing to buy certain goods. They also supported "non-importation." This meant not bringing British goods into the colonies. These actions happened before the Revolutionary War began.
These women held special events called spinning bees. At these events, they made cloth at home. This homemade cloth was called "homespun." Colonists could wear homespun instead of British textiles. This helped them avoid buying British goods.
Women were also important because they bought things for their families. They made sure that other Patriots kept their promises. They wanted everyone to boycott British goods.
The Daughters of Liberty are also known for boycotting British tea. This happened after the Tea Act was passed. The British East India Company was given a special deal on tea. This made it hard for colonial tea sellers to compete.
So, the Daughters of Liberty started drinking "liberty tea." They used leaves from raspberries or black tea plants. This way, people could still enjoy tea. But they did not have to buy tea imported by Britain.
Chapters of the Daughters of Liberty helped with the war effort. They melted down metal to make bullets. They also helped sew uniforms for soldiers. Samuel Adams, a leader of the Sons of Liberty, once said, "With ladies on our side, we can make every Tory tremble." This shows how much their efforts were valued.
Famous Daughters of Liberty
Here are some women linked to the Daughters of Liberty:
- Sarah Bradlee Fulton is famous for her role in the 1773 Boston Tea Party. She suggested that Tea Party members dress as Mohawk Native Americans. This helped them avoid being caught by British officials. She was called "Mother of the Tea Party" for this idea. She also helped organize nurses for the Battle of Bunker Hill.
- Sarah Franklin Bache was a Daughter of Liberty. She was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin, a famous diplomat. She is known for helping to provide clothes and supplies for American Soldiers in 1780.
- Martha Washington was the wife of George Washington. She joined General Washington during cold winter camps. She worked hard to provide as much as she could for the soldiers.
- Esther de Berdt started a group called The Ladies of Philadelphia in 1778. This group raised money for food and clothing for the Continental Army. Even though she was born in London, she supported the American cause. She also wrote an essay called "Sentiments of an American Woman." This essay encouraged colonial women to join the fight against the British.
- Deborah Sampson became a symbol of women's involvement in the war. She dressed as a man and fought in the war. She used the name Robert Shurtlieff. She fought in 1781.
- Elizabeth Nichols Dyar helped disguise the men of the Boston Tea Party. She mixed and put copper-colored paint on them. This made them look like Mohawk Indians. After the Tea Party, she and her children had to hide. They left Boston in a meat cart to avoid trouble. She is buried in Phillips, Maine.
- Molly Pitcher is a nickname given to a woman who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
