History
The Liberty Bell, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the most prominent symbols of the American Revolutionary War. It is a familiar symbol of independence within the United States and has been described as an icon of liberty and justice. According to tradition, its most famous ringing occurred on July 8, 1776, to summon citizens of Philadelphia for the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The bell had also been rung to announce the opening of the First Continental Congress in 1774 and after the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775.
During the war, German soldiers attempted to steal the bell for reasons unknown, but their efforts were foiled thanks to the presence of the masked heroine known as Miss Liberty. Armed with powder horns, Miss Liberty fought against the Hessians and prevented them from dragging the bell over the top of a steep hillside. The explosions however, severed the ropes holding the bell to the cliff side and it fell to the ground, crushing Miss Liberty.
Some two-hundred years later, the Bell became a symbol of power for Miss Liberty's descendant Elizabeth "Libby" Lawrence. Drawing inspiration from the bell, she believed that its essence imbued her with an adrenal rush, augmenting her strength and reflexes. As the super-hero Liberty Belle, she became energized whenever she found herself within the bell's presence.
In May of 1942, Nazi super-villains Baron Blitzkrieg and Zyklon raided the bell's resting place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. After murdering its keeper, Tom Revere (a descendant of Paul Revere), they attempted to steal the bell, but ran afoul of Liberty Belle and her teammate Johnny Quick. Although the heroes fought valiantly, Blitzkrieg and his cohorts succeeded in temporarily stealing the bell. Having been blinded in a previous encounter with the Squadron, Baron Blitzkrieg used the bell as a component in an experiment to restore his eyesight. [1][2]
In 1948, the Injustice Society of the World attempted to steal various items relating to patriotism and American heritage. The Fiddler attempted to steal the Liberty Bell, but was foiled by Doctor Mid-Nite and Wonder Woman. Note: In modern continuity, Queen Hippolyta was the 1940s Wonder Woman, not Princess Diana. [3]
In modern times, Libby Lawrence (now much older) is the current caretaker of the bell. She was present when the neo-Nazi organization Fourth Reich attacked Independence Hall. Thanks to the aid of Justice Society members Hawkman, Green Lantern, Hourman, Damage and Libby's daughter, the current Liberty Belle, both Libby and the Bell survived the attack unharmed. [4]