What major gift did France give the United States??

Answer 1

Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.
Construction of the Statue began in France in the year 1875, by sculptor Auguste Bartholdi. The final completion date of the individual sections was in June of 1884, and it stood in Paris until it was dismantled in early 1885 for shipping to the US. Engineering of the structure's assembly was done by Gustave Eiffel.
The French frigate "Isere" transported the Statue from France to the United States. In transit the Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates.

(The pedestal was designed by architect Richard M.Hunt in 1877. Construction of the pedestal began in 1883 and was completed in 1884, and final assembly of the statue & pedestal was completed in 1886)

On October 28, 1886 President Grover Cleveland accepted The Statue on behalf of the United States and said in part: "we will not forget that liberty here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected".

Physical Details:
Winds of 50 miles per hour cause the Statue to sway 3 inches (7.62 cm) and the torch to sway 5 inches (12.7 cm).
There are 25 windows in the crown which comprise the jewels beneath the seven rays of the diadem. The tablet which the Statue holds in her left hand reads, in Roman numerals, "July 4, 1776" the day of America's independence from Britain.

Standard Metric
Height from base to torch 151' 1" 46.50m
Foundation of pedestal to torch 305' 1" 92.99m
Heel to top of head 111' 1" 33.86m
Length of hand 16' 5" 5.00m
index finger 8' 0" 2.44m
Circumference at second joint 3' 6" 1.07m
Size of fingernail 13"x10" 13x25.4m
Head from chin to cranium 17' 3" 5.26m
Head thickness from ear to ear 10' 0" 3.05m
Distance across the eye 2' 6" .76m
Length of nose 4' 6" l.48m
Right arm length 42' 0" 12.80m
Right arm greatest thickness 12' 0" 3.66m
Thickness of waist 35' 0" 10.67m
Width of mouth 3' 0" .91m
Tablet, length 23' 7" 7.19m
Tablet, width 13' 7" 4.14m
Tablet, thickness 2' 0" .61m
Height of granite pedestal 89' 0" 27.13m
Height of foundation 65' 0" 19.81m


Weight of copper used in Statue - 200,000 pounds (100 tons)
Weight of steel used in Statue - 250,000 pounds (125 tons)
Total weight used in Statue - 450,000 pounds (225 tons)
Copper sheeting of Statue is 3/32 of an inch thick (2.37mm)



The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch whose flame
Is imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips.

"Give me your tired your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)

Answer 2

France's major gift to The United States was The Statue of Liberty.

Answer 3

Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

Answer 4

The Statue of Liberty

Answer 5

Assistance during the Revolution and the Statue of Liberty

Answer 6

Our liberty. Had it not been for the assistance of the French navy and ground forces, we'd never have won the Revolutionary War. I think that trumps the later gift of the Statue of Liberty!

Answer 7

Statue of Liberty

Answer 8

The Statue of Liberty is probably the most visible, however, I think the presence of someone like the Marquis de Lafayette was an inestimable gift for he was willing to lay down his life for the principles involved.

Answer 9

The Statue of Liberty .

Answer 10

Statue of Liberty. Do I get 10 pts?

Answer 11

The philosophical ideas that sparked the American Revolution -Jefferson was heavily influenced by French philosophers- as well as troops and supplies that won us the war. Without French naval support we would not have defeated Cornwallis at Yorktown. I don't know why Rochambeau isn't up there with Washington.