From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)

The Tree is one of iconic symbols, common in all cultures of the world. Its high vertical trunk can symbolize the Axis Mundi. The crown may be associated with the upper world, a shelter of deities or spirits. The renewal of spring foliage connects the tree with the idea of death and resurrection, an...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mariya Filimonova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv 2017-01-01
Series:Американська історія і політика
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.americanstudies.history.knu.ua/en/from-the-history-of-symbolic-politics-in-the-american-revolution-the-tree-of-liberty/
_version_ 1797373435902427136
author Mariya Filimonova
author_facet Mariya Filimonova
author_sort Mariya Filimonova
collection DOAJ
description The Tree is one of iconic symbols, common in all cultures of the world. Its high vertical trunk can symbolize the Axis Mundi. The crown may be associated with the upper world, a shelter of deities or spirits. The renewal of spring foliage connects the tree with the idea of death and resurrection, and fertility. The emergence of the state adds political dimension to the symbolism of trees. The beginning of the revolutionary process in the colonies resulted in reformatting political symbols. The symbolism of trees changed, too. In America there were «trees of liberty» and «liberty poles». They became a symbol of protest, a meeting place for patriots and a place of punishment for the supporters of the metropolis (the loyalists). An ancient agricultural symbol has become a symbol of the revolutionary renewal of society. The article examines how real trees, turned into a symbol of freedom, and the use of the image of the tree in the texts of the American revolution. The author also studies the parallel symbol of the «liberty poles». The appearance of the studied symbols, their main functions in the mobilization of mass protests and their spread beyond the United States are described. The source base includes the journals of the Continental Congress, materials of the ratification conventions, epistolary and diary materials, literary works.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T18:50:11Z
format Article
id doaj.art-96e2b7292fd747df9d81c22905b66bed
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2521-1706
2521-1714
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T18:50:11Z
publishDate 2017-01-01
publisher Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
record_format Article
series Американська історія і політика
spelling doaj.art-96e2b7292fd747df9d81c22905b66bed2023-12-28T21:17:15ZengTaras Shevchenko National University of KyivАмериканська історія і політика2521-17062521-17142017-01-01318919810.17721/2521-1706.2017.03.189-198From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)Mariya Filimonova0State University of Kursk, city of KurskThe Tree is one of iconic symbols, common in all cultures of the world. Its high vertical trunk can symbolize the Axis Mundi. The crown may be associated with the upper world, a shelter of deities or spirits. The renewal of spring foliage connects the tree with the idea of death and resurrection, and fertility. The emergence of the state adds political dimension to the symbolism of trees. The beginning of the revolutionary process in the colonies resulted in reformatting political symbols. The symbolism of trees changed, too. In America there were «trees of liberty» and «liberty poles». They became a symbol of protest, a meeting place for patriots and a place of punishment for the supporters of the metropolis (the loyalists). An ancient agricultural symbol has become a symbol of the revolutionary renewal of society. The article examines how real trees, turned into a symbol of freedom, and the use of the image of the tree in the texts of the American revolution. The author also studies the parallel symbol of the «liberty poles». The appearance of the studied symbols, their main functions in the mobilization of mass protests and their spread beyond the United States are described. The source base includes the journals of the Continental Congress, materials of the ratification conventions, epistolary and diary materials, literary works.http://www.americanstudies.history.knu.ua/en/from-the-history-of-symbolic-politics-in-the-american-revolution-the-tree-of-liberty/american revolutionhistory of symbols«liberty tree»
spellingShingle Mariya Filimonova
From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)
Американська історія і політика
american revolution
history of symbols
«liberty tree»
title From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)
title_full From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)
title_fullStr From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)
title_full_unstemmed From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)
title_short From the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution («the tree of liberty»)
title_sort from the history of symbolic politics in the american revolution the tree of liberty
topic american revolution
history of symbols
«liberty tree»
url http://www.americanstudies.history.knu.ua/en/from-the-history-of-symbolic-politics-in-the-american-revolution-the-tree-of-liberty/
work_keys_str_mv AT mariyafilimonova fromthehistoryofsymbolicpoliticsintheamericanrevolutionthetreeofliberty