On July 8, 1776, the Liberty Bell rang forth from Independence Hall tower in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On that day it summoned all Philadelphia’s citizens to hear Colonel John Nixon give the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
The Bell’s History
In 1751, The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the construction of The Liberty Bell to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges: Pennsylvania’s original Constitution. The document spoke of universal rights and freedoms. Penn was forward thinking for his time when it came to matters of religious freedom, Native American rights, and including citizens when enacting laws.
The Leviticus 25:10 quote inscribes the Bell: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”.
Eventually, the Bell would go on to become iconic when abolitionists adopted it as a symbol. In fact, it was abolitionists who named it – in reference to the inscription placed on it so many years prior. Previously, people simply called the Bell, the “State House bell”.
The Infamous Crack
Perhaps more famous than the Bell’s name is it’s crack. Although there’s widespread disagreement regarding when the first crack appeared, it is agreed the final expansion of the crack, rendering it un-ringable, occurred on Washington’s birthday in 1846.
The Declaration’s First Reading
On July 4, 1776, delegates of the Continental Congress adopted The Declaration of Independence. However, until the document returned from the printer on July 8th, a public reading of it was abstained from. Once back, the Bell was used to alert Philadelphia’s citizens to its reading.
The Bell Today
The Liberty Bell still hangs today. Each year, in honor of Martin Luther King Day, the bell is gently tapped in honor of Dr. King.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Info Source: USHistory and History
Photo Source: AdobeStock
