In order to recognize the first 100 years of independence, the people of France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States. This historic statue was created by France in order to recognize the ideologies of freedom and democracy of the United States. The Statue of Liberty became a symbol of freedom, liberty, and peace not only for the United States itself, but people migrating to the country from all over the world.
French politician Édouard René Lefèvre de Laboulaye and other fellow politicians were fighting a movement towards monarchy. In order to display a form of resistance of France returning to a monarchy, Édouard René Lefèvre de Laboulaye and fellow politicians indorsed republican principles. As a result, Édouard René Lefèvre de Laboulaye was able to convince the French government to gift a symbolic statue to the United States. This statue, La Liberté éclairant le monde, was a “monument to American independence, and a metaphor for freedom and democracy worldwide.” (Hansen 34)…show more content… Bartholdi traveled to the United States to meet with President Ulysses S. Grant and other political leaders. During this trip Bartholdi was amazed by the astonishing splendor of the harbor in New York City. Because of this beautiful place, Bartholdi suggested that the statue be placed on Bedloe Island, which would greet people as they entered into the United States from abroad. Congress agreed with Bartholdi’s proposal of the location of the statue on Bedloe Island, which would later be renamed to Liberty