Lady Liberty's Rough Welcome
The Statue of Liberty rises for the first time--in Paris
The story of the Statue of Liberty is the story of a colossal sculpture that nearly didn't happen, a story of surrogate patriotism and love of liberty that originated in France and found its place in the American dream. And it's a story that many 19th-century Americans didn't find compelling at all.
In 1865, two Frenchmen, statesman Edouard de Laboulaye and sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, conceived the idea of creating a magnificent statue to present to the people of the United States as a celebration of the American Declaration of Independence and as a reminder that there were still many in France who cherished liberty. France had long since lapsed from a republic to the autocratic rule of Napoleon III, but its republican patriots remained determined.
Members, read this article now
| About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use |
KnowledgeNews is brought to you by Every Learner, Inc., an independent small business dedicated to supporting lifelong learners. Copyright © 2002-2008 Every Learner, Inc. All rights reserved.
i