Figure 1.--This early-1900s photo shows Kroo boys at Miss Sharp's mission in Monrovia. Source: American Colonization Society Collection.

The modern nation of Liberia was born out of American abolitionist movement. After the abolition of slavery in northern states, the principal project pursued by the American Aboloitionist Movement was the African Colonization Society. This was a movement which began in the 18th century. It was controversial from the beginning among both whites and blacks. Some blacks dispairing of justice in America supported the back to Africa movemnent. Others thought that blacks should remain in Anerica and press for abolition and full legal rights. White supporters had varying opinions. Some saw it as a way of removing what they saw as an inferior people. Others had more benign view, thinking that blacks would be happier and better off in Africa. Others thought that repatriated Africans could play an important role in Christianizing and civilizing still largely pagan Africa. The American Colonization Society (ACS) was founded (1816) to send frees slaves back to Africa. This was an anti-slavery measure which was feasible at the time. Emancipation was not ppossible in the South, but there were numbers of feed or just about to be freed slaves in the North. The first group of freed slaves reached Western Africa (1822). Elements in the abolitionist movement began attacking the ACS (1830s). They were accused of being a "slaveholder's scheme". Freed Afro-Americans established the independent republic Liberia (1847). Most of the Afro-Americans settled in Liberia did not come from Liberia or even West Africa. Some had lived in America for decades or were born in America. Quite a number had white fathers or other relations. From the beginning there were was an economic and social divide between the Afro-Americans whobestablished and cintroled the Republic and the native residents of Liberia. The country was the only African country to avoid European colonization. Long term president William Tubman (1944-71) promoted foreign investment. He attempted to address the econimic and social divided between the desendents of the Affro-American settlers and the native Liberians who dominated the interior. Samuel Doe engineered a military coup and instituted authoritarian rule (1980). Charles Taylor, an American, launched a rebellion (December 1989), leading to a protracted civil war. Doe was eventually killed. And the fighting subsided. Taylor won an election (1997). Taylor's criminal rule led to another rebellion (2000). A peace was eventually reached (August 2003). Taylor had become involved in the Sierra Civil War where diamonds could be obtained. He resigned under international pressure. Taylor is now being tried for war crimes charges at The Hague as a result of hid barbaric activities in Sierra Leone. A transitional government ruled for 2 years (2003-05). Democratic elections were won by Ellen JJohnson (2005). She has the difficult task of rebuilding a war-torn country. A UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is helping to prevent a return to violence.

Early History

Slavery

We know nothing about the early involvemnent of what is now Liberia in the Arab Trans-Saharan slave trade. Most of the coast of Africa was an embarcation pont for captive Africans tranported to the Americas in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Liberia is of course a modern concept. The area of thecoast corresponding to modern Liberia was the Pepper (melegueta pepper) Coast or Windward Coast. It also includes Ivory Coast. Of all the African coastal areas, this was the least important source od captive Africans in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Less than 2 percent of the Aftrians tranported to the Americas came from the Pepper Coast. As a result, Liberia's involvement with the history of slavery is primarily concerned with the African colonization effort of the American Colonisation Society. Liberia is thus a creation of the American Abolitionist movement. Returning American slaves to Africa was never more than a chimera. The value of American slaves was an astromical sum. The first group of freed slaves arrived (1820). Monrovia also became a point where the U.S. Navy on West Africa Station could off load captive Africans taken from slavers. (There was no way of retruning them to their homes.) The British did the same in Sierra Leon (Freetown) with far more freed captives from their ships on the West African Station. Independence under American diplomatic tutelage was achieved (1847). The local population did not like the idea or the newcomers and proved hostile. They harassed and attacked them throughout the 19th century.

Foundation

The modern nation of Liberia was born out of American abolitionist movement. After the abolition of slavery in northern states, the principal project pursued by the American Aboloitionist Movement was the African Colonization Society. This was a movement which began in the 18th century. It was controversial from the beginning among both whites and blacks. Some blacks dispairing of justice in America supported the back to Africa movemnent. Others thought that blacks should remain in Anerica and press for abolition and full legal rights. White supporters had varying opinions. Some saw it as a way of removing what they saw as an inferior people. Others had more benign view, thinking that blacks would be happier and better off in Africa. Others thought that repatriated Africans could play an important role in Christianizing and civilizing still largely pagan Africa. The American Colonization Society (ACS) was founded (1816) to send frees slaves back to Africa. This was an anti-slavery measure which was feasible at the time. Emancipation was not ppossible in the South, but there were numbers of feed or just about to be freed slaves in the North. The first group of freed slaves reached Western Africa (1822). Elements in the abolitionist movement began attacking the ACS (1830s). They were accused of being a "slaveholder's scheme". Freed Afro-Americans established the independent republic Liberia (1847). Most of the Afro-Americans settled in Liberia did not come from Liberia or even West Africa. Some had lived in America for decades or were born in America. Quite a number had white fathers or other relations.

Liberin Socierty

From the beginning there were was an economic and social divide between the Afro-Americans whobestablished and cintroled the Republic and the native residents of Liberia. The country was the only African country to avoid European colonization. Long term president William Tubman (1944-71) promoted foreign investment. He attempted to address the econimic and social divided between the desendents of the Affro-American settlers and the native Liberians who dominated the interior.

Civil War

Samuel Doe engineered a military coup and instituted authoritarian rule (1980). Charles Taylor, an American, launched a rebellion (December 1989), leading to a protracted civil war. Doe was eventually killed. And the fighting subsided. Taylor won an election (1997). Taylor's criminal rule led to another rebellion (2000). A peace was eventually reached (August 2003). Taylor had become involved in the Sierra Civil War where diamonds could be obtained. He resigned under international pressure. Taylor is now being tried for war crimes charges at The Hague as a result of hid barbaric activities in Sierra Leone.

Democracy

A transitional government ruled for 2 years (2003-05). Democratic elections were won by Ellen JJohnson (2005). She has the difficult task of rebuilding a war-torn country. A UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is helping to prevent a return to violence.

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Created: 10:22 AM 8/19/2010
Last updated: 3:07 AM 6/18/2017