the Liberty Bell
/ðə ˈlɪbəti bel/
/ðə ˈlɪbərti bel/
- a bell used by Americans during the American Revolution. It is loved as a symbol of freedom and has these words from the Bible on it: ‘Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.’ It was made in London and taken to Philadelphia in 1752 where it cracked when it was first used. It was repaired and rung for such events as the Boston Tea Party and when the Declaration of Independence was first read to the public. It cracked again in 1835 and 1846. In 1976 it was placed in a special case of glass and steel behind Independence Hall.