Davis, who in five years would inhabit the highest office of team wrong-side-of-history during the Civil War, attempted to stifle the growing abolitionist attitude within the north by using his office to remove references to slavery on public buildings.įollowing on the heels of both the Fugitive Slave Act (1850) and Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1851), Crawford’s statue represented yet another battleground in Davis’ war on public perception. It was the inclusion of the liberty cap with which former Secretary of War and slavery apologist Jefferson Davis voiced concerns with.
Prominent in each concept was the addition of a liberty cap - a traditional Roman symbol of freed slaves - and a sword/shield to depict armed freedom.
Having already worked on other artistic features found on the building, Crawford accepted Meigs commission and began work in his studio in Rome.Ĭrawford completed three maquettes (small concept models) which he photographed and presented to Meigs. Construction Superintendent and mustache enthusiast Captain Montgomery Meigs requested Thomas Crawford to create their statue. In his redesign, Walter imagined the rotunda as it is today with a sixteen-foot statue adorned with Roman symbols of freedom standing on top. Both the east and west wings were extended and the former mint-green copper dome was next on the chopping block. Capitol Building to accommodate the growing number of representatives from added states. In 1855, the United States commissioned architect Thomas U. How on Earth did a statue about freedom end up having nothing symbolizing freedom on it?
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