The Daughters of Liberty were informal groups of American colonial women patriots who supported the fight for independence from Great Britain before and during the American Revolution (around 1765 to 1783). They mainly used economic protest methods, such as boycotting British goods and producing homemade alternatives like homespun cloth to replace taxed imports. Their actions played a crucial role in resisting British taxation and supporting colonial independence efforts. They formed in response to British tax laws such as the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, which imposed taxes on various goods, including printed materials and tea. The Daughters of Liberty boycotted these British goods and organized spinning bees to create homemade textiles. They also encouraged men and families to stay committed to the boycott and the patriot cause. Notable women linked to the Daughters of Liberty included Sarah Bradlee Fulton, credited with helping to organize the Boston Tea Party and acting as a spy during the war; Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight as a soldier; and Esther de Berdt Reed, who raised funds for the Continental Army. The Daughters of Liberty were important in sustaining patriot morale, organizing critical economic resistance, and contributing directly to the war effort by producing clothing, melting down metal for bullets, and nursing wounded soldiers. Their political and economic activism helped mobilize support for American liberty and independence.
