Throughout America's history, the Liberty Bell has embodied the ideals of freedom for a myriad of social movements. Originally known as the Pennsylvania State House Bell, the Liberty Bell first rang and resided in the tower of the Pennsylvania State House.

In 1753, the year the State House was completed, the Whitehall Chapel Foundry in London cast the original bell, but within weeks of its first use, problems arose with its integrity. The owners of Pass and Stoves at a local Philadelphia foundry were commissioned to recast the bell. Starting in the 1750s, the Pennsylvania State House Bell rang to announce news and gatherings throughout Philadelphia.

After the French and Indian War, relations between the American colonists and Britain deteriorated rapidly. Despite the colonists' loyalty to the crown during the war, the British parliament imposed higher taxes on them to pay for debts incurred during the conflict. With the passage of the Revised Sugar Act in 1764 and the Stamp Act in 1765, the American colonists were quickly agitated by these new taxes. In the city of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania State House gathered citizens for the announcement of Britain's laws. The colonists associated the chimes of the Pennsylvania State House fell with unwanted tyrannical legislation from a parliament where they had no representation.

Throughout history, the Liberty Bell has remained a beacon of freedom. At the top of the bell is the biblical passage Leviticus 25:10 “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” This statement inspired the famous abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. Although the exact person remains undetermined, historians credit the abolitionist movement with giving the Pennsylvania statehouse bell its new name, "The Liberty Bell."

Abolitionists were inspired by the Liberty Bell in a literal sense. The Friends of Freedom - an abolitionist group headquartered in Boston - chose to name their annual publication "The Liberty Bell." Each year, the publication's cover uses images to protest the evils of slavery. The American women's rights movement began in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. In its early days, the movement focused primarily on voting rights, but its desire was that women receive equal treatment in all areas of society.

The relationship between the women's suffrage movement and the Liberty Bell began when Mrs. Charles Wistar Lucien Burger paid for the creation of the Justice Fell. The Justice Fell was an exact replica of the original Liberty Bell and traveled throughout the United States to raise funds for the women's suffrage movement. The bell clapper was modified so that the Justice Fell would ring for the first time when women gained the right to vote.

In the 1960s, all of America found itself embroiled in a fierce battle for racial equality. Across the country, many African Americans were unable to vote due to illegal racial practices. After the turmoil that took place during the famous 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, a group of students from the University of Pennsylvania staged a sit-in at the Liberty Bell. In March 1965, the students distributed leaflets to build support. Their intention was to get the attention of the national media and they succeeded. Their sit-in turned into a sleep-in, and in August 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed but did not end discrimination. Thus, they made discrimination at the ballot box illegal.

Throughout its history, the Liberty Bell has been associated with many social movements. Today, we still see logos and advertisements that feature this sacred old bell as a symbol of American freedom.

Sources: Britannica, Constitution Center, History, US History, Visit Philly, National Park Service, Philadelphia Encyclopedia