How Did The Statue Of Liberty Encourage Immigrants To Come To America?
On July 4th, 1884, the Statue of Liberty was sent from France to America. The French citizens wanted to commemorate the alliance between the two countries. After the Statue of Liberty was reassembled in New York, Emma Lazarus wrote a poem about the land of refugees. This poem reassured the immigrants that America was the place to go. The torch was another symbol that America was right, with the uplifted torch, they thought of it as a welcome sign.
The Statue of Liberty, July 4th, 1881, National Park Service
Liberty Enlightening the World
"'Liberty' was a controversial idea in the 19th century. To many people it suggested violence and revolution. Laboulaye and Bartholdi agreed that their monument should not be seen as leading an uprising, but rather as lighting the way, peacefully and lawfully. A key element was the name they gave to the Statue:Liberty Enlightening the World. Bartholdi's public monuments hailed back to classical images of a powerful, honorable national authority over any ideology. His statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World" would be above conservatism and liberalism and above radical revolutions and political turmoil. She would be an international symbol of liberty, justice, and democracy. In 1871, the Statue was transformed from idea into reality - it was to be funded, built, and presented to the United States." The French Connection, 2016, National Park Service.
The Spirit of 61, 1861, National Park Service.
Mother of Exiles
"Between 1886 and 1924, almost 14 million immigrants entered the United States through New York. The Statue of Liberty was a reassuring sign that they had arrived in the land of their dreams. To these anxious newcomers, the Statue's uplifted torch did not suggest "enlightenment," as her creators intended, but rather, "welcome." Over time, Liberty emerged as the "Mother of Exiles," a symbol of hope to generations of immigrants." The Immigration Statue, 2016, National Park Service.