The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States
Chapter One Sign of Friendship After the Union won the Civil War in 1865 slavery was ended The new United States inspired much of the rest of the world It represented a love of liberty France really admired the United States The monarchy in France ended in the French Revolution 1789 1799 France’s motto became Liberté Égalité Fraternité This means liberty equality and brotherhood Édouard René de Laboulaye was a French politician and author Sign of Friendship 5
He worked to end slavery Some time before 1870 he had an idea He wanted to show French support for the United States He wished to make the countries better friends He thought France should build a colossal statue as a gift to the United States French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi presented the idea of a statue to US politicians A French Idea He told his idea to a famous French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi liked the idea However 6 Building the Statue of Liberty
he couldn’t do the job right away He already had other projects Also France was at war with Prussia Germany Finally Bartholdi crossed the Atlantic Ocean to present the plan in 1871 He visited many powerful people in New York including President Ulysses S Grant They liked the idea France agreed to pay for the statue It would Liberty Island was formerly known as Bedloe’s Island Sign of Friendship 7
