Statue+of+Liberty

The Statue of Liberty One of the greatest, most recognizable symbols of America is the Statue of Liberty. It’s a national monument that gives America an international friendship. It is located on Liberty Island in New York, New York. Many people know about the Statue of Liberty but don’t know the meaning of it. The Statue of Liberty is an amazing monument that is a symbol of America.

**Q1. What does the Statue of Liberty represent?** The great monument located on Liberty Island wasn’t just made for any purpose, but instead gave great meaning to people throughout the world. It stood as a symbol of freedom and commemorated French-American Friendship. The French gave the statue to us, Americans, over a hundred years ago in recognition of the friendship we established with them during the American Revolution. (Statue of Liberty National Monument 1) It gives freedom to people throughout the world and ensures them that the USA is a welcoming figure that holds out a promising figure of freedom and opportunity for all. (Heilbrun 1) The Statue of Liberty is a symbol for freedom and friendship.

**Q2. How did they fund for the Statue of Liberty?** Many people from the United States and France struggled to fund for the Statue of Liberty. In France, public fees, forms of entertainment, and lottery were used to raise funds. In the United States they benefited theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions, and prize fights to assist the funding for the Statue of Liberty. A man named Joseph Pulizer knew that there needed to be more people helping to fund this statue. He decided to open up his editorial pages of his newspaper, “The World” to support the fund raising effort. He used his newspaper to criticize the rich who failed to finance the pedestal construction and the middle class who were relying on the wealthy to provide the funds. His harsh criticism became a great motive to make people of America to donate. (Statue of Liberty — Statue of Liberty History. 1)

**Q3. What are some unique characteristics of the Statue of Liberty?** The Statue of Liberty has a lot of interesting characteristics that I never knew about until I read about it. She wears a crown with seven spikes that stand for the light of liberty shining on the seven seas and seven continents. On her left arm she cradles a tablet that bears the date of the Declaration of Independence and on her feet is a chain that represents tyranny. On the interior wall of the pedestal of the monument is a poem called “The New Colossus” from 1903. (Heilbrun 1) This high statue has a height of 151 feet and 1 inch and weighs 225 tons. The pedestal is 89 feet tall and is the largest concrete structure in the world. (Heilbrun 2) There are a total of 167 steps from the land level to the top of the pedestal and 168 steps inside the statue to the head. This statue was dismantled when it arrived in the United States and came in 214 packaging cases from Rouen, France in June 1885. (Statue of Liberty National Monument. 1)

__**Works Cited:**__
1. "Statue of Liberty." //World Book Advanced//. World Book, 2010. Web. 8 April 2010.

2. "Statue of LIberty National Monument." //World Almanac and Book of Facts.// World Almanac Education Group, 2000. 1286. Student Edition. Web. 6 Apr. 2010.

3. "Statue of LIberty -- Statue of LIberty History." Welcome to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Ed. National Park Service. Web. 08 Apr. 2010. []