What Does the Statue of Liberty Stand For?
In What Does the Statue of Liberty Stand For?, historian Lucy Worsley investigates the origins and meanings of the Statue of Liberty. When it was unveiled in 1886, women protested that women did not have liberty; neither was there liberty and equality for African Americans. Emma Lazarus wrote a poem, The New Colossus, which not only raised money for the statue but gave her a new purpose: to welcome immigrants from the rest of the world. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
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Q: What does the Statue of Liberty represent?
A: The Statue of Liberty represents freedom, democracy, and the values of liberty and justice. Given to the United States by France in 1886, it was a symbol of hope and opportunity for immigrants arriving in the country, particularly those entering through Ellis Island in New York Harbor. It also represents the American ideals of welcoming newcomers and the pursuit of a better life.
Q: Which groups did the Statue of Liberty not fully represent liberty for?
A: While the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and equality, it did not fully represent liberty for all groups in the United States at the time of its unveiling. African Americans, Native Americans, and women, for example, did not have full rights or equal treatment under the law. For African Americans, the era of segregation and Jim Crow laws denied them the freedoms that the statue symbolized. Similarly, women did not gain full voting rights until 1920, and Native Americans were not granted full citizenship until 1924.
Q: Why was the Statue of Liberty considered a hollow icon?
A: The Statue of Liberty was considered a "hollow icon" by some because, while it symbolized freedom and equality, many people in the U.S. were still denied those very ideals. The statue stood as a powerful symbol, but in practice, many marginalized groups such as African Americans, Native Americans, and women were not fully included in the American vision of liberty. The gap between the statue’s ideal of liberty and the reality of inequality made it feel hollow for those who were excluded from its promise.