You are wondering why did France give US the Statue of Liberty? Especially when it is such a special monument with its way of grabbing attention. To know the reason, you must read the article to learn more.
The sculpture is a neoclassical beauty mammoth that was difficult to transport across the Atlantic. Often known as Lady Liberty, the monument is known worldwide as the symbol of strength, freedom, and representation of the United States.
One of the most iconic monuments of the United States, the Statue of Liberty, is positioned off the coast, making it visible across New York City. Want to learn more about the vibrant history of the Statue of Liberty? Keep reading!
Why Did France Give Us The Statue Of Liberty? Get Your Answer Here!
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island, which is very close to Ellis Island, formerly an immigration center. People who immigrated to the USA between 1886 to 1994 saw the Statue of Liberty when they arrived.
It was an emotional sight for the immigrants; the irony is that the Statue of Liberty is herself an immigrant! It was a gift from France to the United States. Also, it makes you wonder why France gave the US the Statue of Liberty.
Did you know that the Statue of Liberty was once a lighthouse! Yet, it did not function properly. I will spill other interesting facts about Lady Liberty that you probably didn’t know!
Origin Of the Statue Of Liberty
You will be shocked to learn that the Statue of Liberty was not even wanted in the first place by the US. The monument that has become such an important part of the symbolization of the United States was neglected by them for a long time.
So, why did France give US the Statue of Liberty? It all started when an idealistic political thinker in France called Eduoard de Laboulaye thought of making a monument significant for France and the US in 1865. He was very clear about the involvement of the government in the project.
He planned that the French people would fund the Statue of Liberty while the Americans would support creating the pedestal on which it would stand. Sculptor Auguste Bartholdi was enlisted by Laboulaye and planned on the project, which was officially announced in 1975.
The Americans were obvious that anything that required them to invest money, they did not want it. When Bartholdi met with the movers and shakers of New York, their interest was to know whether they could put advertisements or develop business at the base so that they must profit from it.
The French people raised the money to construct the Statue by organizing opera events and concerts. Over 9 years, the Statue was ready in 1884, and throughout the period, Bartholdi kept the publicity going with the different parts of the Statue, such as the arm and head.
Why Did France Give The Statue Of Liberty To The USA?
Americans still did not construct any pedestal, so Lady Liberty had noplace to go. It was in 1885 that the artist decided to send it to New York, and it was the only time a government was involved, as the French government paid for the transportation across the Atlantic.
The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York, was dismantled in 210 crates, and was stacked. Joseph Pulitzer, an immigrant newspaperman, decided to do exactly what the French did. He got the people of the US involved and asked them to give money, anything they could manage.
$102,000 was raised in the form of dimes, nickels, and pennies from 120,000 contributors, and all of them were recognized as Pulitzer printed their names on the front page of his newspaper. The pedestal was completed with the pennies of the people!
The Statue of Liberty was a gift by France to America on June 17, 1885, honoring an alliance between the two countries. During the American Revolution, the French recognized America as a champion of freedom and Liberty.
The aim was to gift the monument for the centennial anniversary of US independence. It was a way for the French to support America and agree with their ideals, encouraging them to integrate Liberty into their constitution.
Assemblage Of The Statue Of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty arrived at the New York Harbor in crates stacked for 4 months before the pedestal was finally constructed. The boxes contained 350 pieces which were more of a puzzle.
The puzzle was then assembled into a 305 feet tall statue along with the pedestal constructed by the Americans. The weight of the Statue is approximately 225 tons, with a torch 10 feet long made of gold-plated copper, which Lady Liberty holds in her right hand.
A steel frame on the inside supports the Statue, while outside, the Statue has copper sheets that are 3/32 thickness of an inch. The interior of the Statue was designed by Gustave Eiffel in iron, who also built the Eiffel Tower.
Stairs can climb the crown of the Statue, and it has 25 windows! Now you will ask how many stairs are in the Statue of Liberty? There are 354 steps on one stair to reach the top.
Who Was The Model For The Statue Of Liberty?
So did you know who was the model for the Statue of Liberty? In an article by The Times published on September 20, 1991, it is said that the sculptor of the Statue, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, modeled the face of the Statue on the face of his mother.
Another claim that has been made is that the model for the Statue of Liberty is Isabella Boyer, a beautiful Frenchwoman married to Isaac Merritt Singer, the American industrialist. Later she went on to marry the Duke of Campo Selice of Luxembourg.
The 36-year-old Duchess de Campo Selice inspired the sculptor in 1878, who immortalized her features in the face of the Statue of Liberty.
Why Did The Statue Of Liberty Turn Green?
It wasn’t always green, you know; however, when she first arrived in New York, the pictures were in black and white, hence it was difficult to identify the exact color of the Statue.
Wondering, what did the Statue of Liberty originally look like? It is said that when the Statue was unveiled in 1886, the color of the Statue was the same as the penny.
So, when did the Statue of Liberty turn green? By 1906, the Statue of Liberty turned green because of oxidation covering the copper and the bronze. Green is a thin layer that can preserve the metal for centuries in all climatic conditions exposed to diverse climates.
With several rehabilitation and restoration, inside and out, there has never been any paint job done, and the Liberty Lady stands in its irreproducible color. Her torch has been replaced with a copper flame covered in 24-carat gold, giving a shiny appearance.
Conclusion
Isn’t it interesting that Lady Liberty is a Parisian immigrant herself, symbolizing America’s role in the immigration history of people across the world who sought refuge in the US?
Questioning France’s motive regarding why did France give US the Statue of Liberty, it is to commemorate the relationship between the United States and France. The robed lady holding a torch is a symbol of Liberty.
Comment below on why America was unprepared to receive such an important gift!
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