Item 103128 - Pour La Liberté, Fête De L'Indépendance, 1918

Item 103128 - Pour La Liberté, Fête De L'Indépendance, 1918
Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Item 103128
Pour La Liberté, Fête De L'Indépendance, 1918
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France and the United States shared a special relationship during World War I, which largely stemmed from France's support of American patriots during the Revolutionary War. This poster illustrated the relationship with a mix of iconography; the arrival of the American troops in 1917 (the dough-boy solider at center), a shadowy George Washington in the background, and Lady Liberty shinning a beacon of light.

The American Expeditionary Forces arrived in France in late June 1917. This limited-edition poster honored their arrival, the American Independence Day holiday, and the relationship between the United States and France. Leading with a popular French WWI slogan "Pour la Liberté" ("For Freedom"), it announced a "Fête De L'Indépendance" ("Festival of Independence") on July 4, 1918.

At the bottom of the poster, Woodrow Wilson is quoted (taken from translation) "July 4, 1776 is the day of the birth of the United States. On this day, the colonies of North America proclaimed their Independence and became a Nation. We will give all that we love, all that we possess, to deliver the world, to allow free men like us to live there."

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