TSP-0000919_Her_Chains

(Representation)The Idea of: freedom, not free
 
The Statue of Liberty has broken chains and shackles at her feet, symbolizing the end of oppression, servitude, and tyranny, particularly commemorating the abolition of slavery in the U.S.
Original Plan: Bartholdi first designed the statue to hold broken chains in her left hand.
Change in Design: Due to pressure from American donors, the chains were moved to her feet for a more subtle abolitionist message. 
The chains are positioned so they are difficult to see from the ground, remaining a significant, yet often overlooked, detail.