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The Liberty Bell's History

By Michelle Fortunato, eHow Contributor

As British troops progressed toward Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September 1777, U.S. cavalrymen fled to a northern destination with the capital city's bells, including the Liberty Bell, in tow. The American Revolution was underway and soldiers feared that the British would confiscate and melt down the bells for use as artillery. American forces transported the camouflaged bells by wagon 50 miles to what is now Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Liberty Bell was hidden for several months under floorboards in Zion Reformed Church before being returned to Philadelphia following the defeat of the British.

Bell's Origin

  1. In 1751, assemblymen of the Province of Pennsylvania requested the purchase of a State House bell to be rung as a means to gather the public together for special events. Colonial agent Robert Charles, who was based in London, ordered the bell from the city's Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Made of copper and tin, and weighing about 2,000 lbs., the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia on Sept. 1, 1752 and was placed in the State House steeple.

Legendary Crack

  1. In March 1753, the Liberty Bell was rung for the first time, but the bell cracked with the clapper's first stroke. Some attributed the problem to a brittle bell, while others believed the casting was flawed, states USHistory.org. Local foundry workers John Pass and John Stow volunteered to recast the damaged bell.

Pass and Stow

  1. Attempting to render the Liberty Bell less brittle, John Pass and John Stow melted it down before adding 1½ oz. of copper to each pound of the bell's material. The recast Liberty Bell was hung in April 1753, but the people of Philadelphia were unhappy with the tone, so Pass and Stow recast the bell once more. After being restored to the State House steeple two months later, the Liberty Bell's tone was again found to be unacceptable. London's Whitechapel Foundry received a request for a new bell.

Two Bells

  1. In May 1754, the requested bell arrived from England but was greeted with much dissatisfaction over the bell's pitch. The Pennsylvania assemblymen decided that the new bell would be attached to the clock in the State House cupola to ring the time, while the recast Liberty Bell was to remain in the State House steeple. According to History.com, the most momentous ringing of the Liberty Bell occurred on Jul. 8, 1776, when the bell was used to announce the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the famous document that proclaimed freedom for the American Colonies from British rule.

Second Crack

  1. In 1846, a second crack appeared on the Liberty Bell. According to NationalGeographic.com, casting flaws render the bell prone to fractures and, although two bolts now secure the bell, any amount of strain could split the bell in half.

Meaningful Inscription

  1. The message of freedom imprinted on the Liberty Bell results from a special request made with the original order for a State House bell in 1751. According to the National Park Service's Liberty Bell Center, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly requested a specific verse be inscribed on the bell---"Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof"--- a bible passage taken from the book of Leviticus. Today, the meaning of this profound inscription still endures, emblazoned on a powerful symbol of independence.


THE LIBERTY BELL Reflective Questions

  1. Why was the Liberty Bell hidden in Allentown?
  1. What was the purpose of the Liberty Bell?
  1. When was the most famous ringing of the Liberty Bell?
  1. What is the saying inscribed on the bottom of the bell?