October 25 marks the anniversary of the Edenton Tea Party of 1774, a historical event crucial to American history, without which there might not have been a Declaration of Independence.
In celebration of this anniversary, the John Locke Foundation will release its newest production, “A Letter to the King,” on October 30. This docudrama will tell the story of Penelope Barker and the Edenton Tea Party, reenacting the events and delving into the history of this influential event.
“It’s a short docudrama in which the audience is brought in a little bit more, rather than just imagining what it could have been,” Rene Olmos, producer, director, and cinematographer on the project, told the Carolina Journal.
The Edenton Tea Party was a political protest by Penelope Barker and Elizabeth King. They led a group of 51 women who gathered at Elizabeth King’s home in Edenton, North Carolina, to sign a document to boycott tea and other British products.
The film cuts back and forth between experts explaining the historical facts and a reenactment of the story. Jessi Little plays Penelope Barker, and Morgan Wakefield portrays Elizabeth King. As experts, Donna King, Charles Boyette, Angie Staheli, and Sally Francis-Keyhays are interviewed.
“As the experts walk us through the story, we can peek at the story in certain parts though,” said Olmos. “For example, when they talk about how the moment could have been when they were rioting or writing the resolve, then we get a clip of Penelope Barker and Elizabeth King going back and forth about making the letter.”
Many do not know that without the Edenton Tea Party, there would have been no Declaration of Independence. As the nation gears up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026, it is important to acknowledge this all too often overlooked event.
Unfortunately, the Edenton Tea Party was stuck in the shadow of the Boston Tea Party, which occurred just one year earlier, in 1773. The Edenton Tea Party was birthed by the infamous Boston Tea Party, but the Edenton Party also inspired many ‘Tea Parties’ thereafter, including “the Charleston Tea Party” and “the Yorktown Tea Party,” both of which took place in November 1774.
“This is the first known example of political activism by women in colonial America (and thus in the US) — that makes it significant,” Jane Stroup, an editorial consultant for the North Carolina History Project, told the Carolina Journal. “The women’s action was not about women’s freedom. Rather it was active support of a decision made by men, and it expressed solidarity with the growing interest in independence. It showed the courage and determination of these women. They could have been prosecuted for sedition. Indeed, one woman who intended to sign dropped out at the last minute.”
King, one of the movement’s pioneers, backed out of signing the letter as she told Barker, “My husband, he would lose everything.”
While Susan B. Anthony is credited with leading the movement for women’s rights, Penelope Barker and Elizabeth King paved the way for her centuries earlier.
“Not only was it the first known example of women’s activism in the United States, but it happened long before there was a clear independence movement,” said Stroup. “It makes North Carolina a leader in the move to independence and contributes to the reasons our license plate says First in Freedom.”
This docudrama’s release comes as the nation gears up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026. Recognizing this event is essential, without which there likely would be nothing to celebrate. This historical protest is significant not only to North Carolina but also to the nation.
“The Edenton Tea Party marked a pivotal moment in American political activity, making waves across the Atlantic,” Brooke Medina, executive producer of the film and VP of Communications for the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “The seeds of revolution began to take root among the colonists, with women finding their political voice in ways previously unheard of. The women of the Edenton Tea Party deserve to take their rightful place in our American story. Unlike the Boston Tea Party, they signed their names to their protest, willingly staking their reputations, fortunes, and even their lives on the belief that liberty is a worthy cause. It’s an honor to tell these unsung heroines’ story”.
In this compelling docudrama, a reenactment of these historical events demonstrates how Barker led the charge for freedom for women and all Americans. This film will be available on the John Locke Foundation’s YouTube page on October 30.