Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to America. They explore its collaborative origins, French influence on American independence, and the evolving meaning of liberty as represented by female figures like the Statue of Liberty.
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Quick takeaways
The Statue of Liberty was conceived as a symbol of liberty and a tribute to the recovery of liberty and union in France and America.
Funding for the Statue of Liberty was a challenge, with Joseph Pulitzer playing a crucial role in mobilizing donations from ordinary US citizens.
Deep dives
The Origin of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was conceived by Édouard La Laboulaye, a French professor, in Paris in 1865, during a time of political turmoil in France. He saw the statue as a symbol of liberty and a tribute to the recovery of liberty and union in both France and America. La Laboulaye aimed to encourage a new political order in France based on the American model of free institutions, democracy, and liberty.
Fundraising Challenges for the Statue
The funding for the Statue of Liberty posed challenges, with the French being quicker to contribute funds than the Americans. Joseph Pulitzer, a newspaper magnate, played a crucial role in mobilizing donations from ordinary citizens in the US. His innovative approach of publishing donors' names in the newspaper led to significant contributions, eventually enabling the completion of the statue.
Symbolism and Reception of the Statue
The Statue of Liberty represents a blend of classical and modern symbolism, embodying the concept of liberty in a serene and grand manner. With its serene posture and absence of traditional weapons, the statue signifies a non-threatening view of the Republic. As the statue arrived in America, it symbolized a gesture of liberty and friendship between France and the US, despite initial skepticism and lack of enthusiasm from Americans.
Evolution of Liberty's Significance
Over time, the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty evolved, resonating differently in American and global contexts. Initially representing Franco-American relations and the spirit of democracy, the statue eventually became a symbol of American national identity and ideals. Its significance endured through waves of immigration, symbolizing opportunity and freedom for new arrivals while reflecting broader changes in cultural attitudes toward liberty and democracy.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Statue of Liberty."Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. With these words, inscribed inside her pedestal, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed immigrants to America since 1903. But the Statue of Liberty is herself an immigrant, born in Paris she was shipped across the Atlantic in 214 separate crates, a present to the Americans from the French. She is a token of friendship forged in the fire of twin revolutions, finessed by thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville and expressed in the shared language of liberty. But why was this colossal statue built, who built it and what did liberty mean to the Frenchmen who created her and the Americans who received her?With Robert Gildea, Professor of Modern History at Oxford University; Kathleen Burk, Professor of Modern Contemporary History at University College London; John Keane, Professor of Politics at the University of Westminster
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