Enlightening the World: The Creation of the Statue of Liberty

A dual-track analysis reveals the Statue of Liberty's creation as both a product of cosmopolitan elites and a symbol of American political modernity. The study reconciles social history with intellectual history, highlighting key figures—including Emma Lazarus—and the statue's ideological significance: constitutional government, participatory politics, individual liberty, and enlightenment. This approach merges personal narratives with national symbolism, tracing the 21-year journey from conception to unveiling in October 1886 on Liberty Island.

DeGroff, D. (2011). Enlightening the World: The Creation of the Statue of Liberty. French History, 25(2), 261–263. https://doi.org/10.1093/fh/crr034