In 1865, a group of Frenchmen came up with the idea of building the Statue of Liberty and giving it to the United States as a gift.  The United States was a new country with a democratic government for the people and by the people.  At this time, the French were ruled by an emperor and they looked to the United States for inspiration.

The statue was meant to celebrate democracy, but at the same time, it was meant to celebrate the friendship between France and The United States, a friendship that was formed during the American Revolutionary war.

(from the American Immigration Center)


Note:  The "yearning to breathe free" poem wasn't added to the base of the statue until 1903.