Video: The Sound of Freedom or the Liberty Bell
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Liberty University was named for the famous Liberty Bell. It is famous
for the connection of the American Revolution but also for it’s
inscription. “Proclaim Liberty throughout All the Land Unto all
Inhabitants thereof.” Leviticus 25:10. The verse refers to “Jubilee” or
the instructions to the Israelites to return property and free slaves
every 50 years. In the Old Testament there was a sabbath year. Every
7th year was a year of rest, freeing indentured servants and freeing
them from their debts.
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The Pennsylvania Colony in 1701 adopted a Charter of Privileges. This
was a famous charter or constitution that emphasized religious
freedom. There would not be denominational requirements of office
holders. Such as, the Charter of Privileges 1701-Had its Jubilee
celebration in 1751, as part of that celebration, the Liberty Bell was
commissioned.
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There is a complicated history of the Liberty Bell’s casting and
recasting. When transferring it from England, and it’s cracking from
ringing. All of those things are in the backdrop. The Liberty bell is best
known for the American Revolution.
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1775, the Liberty Bell rang after the fighting at Lexington and
Concord.
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1776 it rang signaling freedom and Independence. Most likely rung on
July 8th, rather than July 4th.
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1777 When the British occupied Philadelphia, the bell went into hiding.
It was stored secretly at a church. A Zion church in Allentown,
Pennsylvania
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1778 When the British withdrew from Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell
returned to storage for a number of years
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When the Constitution was completed, the Liberty Bell rang in 1787
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1799, the liberty bell rang at George Washington’s death
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In the early 1800’s the Liberty Bell was rang to commemorate special
occasions. In 1846, it was rung for Washington’s Birthday. In the
ringing the crack had emerged. It became dangerously cracked in the
1840’s. After this, the bell was infrequently run or gently tapped on.
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During the 1800’s the bell emerged as an icon for Liberty. It’s more of
not what the bell did, but what It represented. It came to symbolize
American freedom and Independence, at the place Independence Hall.
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The transformation of the Liberty Bell into an icon because in the early
1800’s, the bell was almost melted down for scrap. It was forgotten
and deemed by some as worthless.
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The bell’s stature began to grow in the early 1800’s in American
History. This is partly due to a famous trip to America by the Marquis
de Lafayette in 1824-1825. Lafayette’s trip during the Jubilee or on it’s
eve, brought great attention and regeneration of independence.
Lafayette talked about the great moments at Independence Hall. it
remind Americans of their legacy
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In the 1830’s, the bell was associated with Abolitionism. William Lloyd
Garrison. Coined the term Liberty Bell, in connection with the cause the
anti-slavery movement.
