The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered a bell for the tower of Independence
Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1751. The bell, known as the
Liberty Bell, was to commemorate the fifty-year anniversary of William
Penn’s 1701 Charter of Privileges, the state’s original constitution. Penn
wrote of the freedoms and rights valued by people all over the world.
Because of that idea of freedom, abolitionists (those who fought against slavery) adopted the Liberty Bell as their symbol. (See Abolition Movement.)
A line from the Bible, “Proclaim Liberty
throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants
thereof,” is inscribed on the bell. Also inscribed
is the line, “By Order of the Assembly of the
Province of Pensylvania for the State House
in Philada.” The spelling of “Pennsylvania”
had not yet been formalized, and it is spelled
with one “n” in the original constitution as
well as on original maps of the thirteen
colonies. “Philada” was an abbreviation for
“Philadelphia.”
Took a few tries
The bell, which was forged by Whitechapel
Foundry, arrived in Philadelphia in September
1752, although it was not hung until March 10, 1753. During that initial hanging, the bell cracked. Experts of the day believed the crack was
due to the iron being too brittle, but more modern experts think the
casting process itself was flawed, leaving the bell imperfect.
John Pass and John Stow, Philadelphia foundry workers, added copper to the bell hoping to make it less brittle, but the townsfolk disliked
the sound of the mended bell. The two workers tried again. This time,
they completely recast the bell. Isaac Norris, one of the original writers
of the letter that was sent to order the bell, disliked the tone of the new
bell and asked that another bell be made by Whitechapel.
When the new bell arrived, it sounded no better than the bell that
had been recast by Pass and Stow. So the original Liberty Bell remains in
the steeple, and the newer bell hangs in the dome of the roof of the state
house. It is attached to a clock and rings on the hour.
There is a legend dating back to 1847 that tells of eager Americans
waiting to hear the news that independence had been declared in 1776.
An elderly bellman was waiting word in the steeple while his young
grandson eavesdropped on Congress. When the boy supposedly heard
the declaration made behind closed doors, he yelled to his grandfather to
ring the bell. Since that time, the bell has been associated with the Declaration of Independence.