The Statue of Liberty: Symbol of Global America

The Statue of Liberty began life as a monument to the abolition of slavery in the United States and evolved gradually into the symbol for which she is most famous today: a warm welcome to “huddled masses” from abroad. But immigration has often been controversial in American history, just as it is controversial today, so it’s important to remember that the Statue of Liberty is herself an immigrant. She was created by French admirers of American liberty, and those admirers helped establish the Statue of Liberty as the global symbol of what is best about the United States.