The Liberian History
Paul Cuffee was a wealthy American who supported the concept of returning former slaves to Africa. In 1816 he put around 40 ex-slaves on a ship and sailed to Africa. He ported in Freetown, Sierra Leone, though sadly he passed the following year, and his goal to return pass American slaves to Africa passed with him. In later years a American man named Jehudi Ashmun wrote an article about the ACS’s efforts to return former slaves to Africa. Jehudi traveled and arrived in Liberia in 1822, he then attempted to gain more land for the colony, and within a few years he had made an agreement with the tribal chiefs to have ownership of more land. Around this time other settlers started to occupy the coast with other philanthropic organizations. Some Liberian Towns such as Greenville and Harper were formed this way.
In 1839, Thomas BoRough draft American Slavery started in 1650 and ended in 1794, 24 years later the Grain Coast was recommended as a place to live for former American slaves. In later years, around 1818, multiple US government officials sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with representatives from the American Colonization Society (ACS), and with African tribal chiefs, discussed Americans migrating to the land between today’s Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. The tribal chiefs turned down the Americans offer for many years, though in 1821, King Peter, agreed with the American Colonization Society and gave them ownership over the land. In the coming years the ACS and other philanthropic organizations oversaw the return of former American slaves to Africa. During this time, the land that the slaves were sent to was the size of current day Monrovia. (Cultures of the world: liberia. Author: Ievy)
Paul Cuffee was a wealthy American who supported the concept of returning former slaves to Africa. In 1816 he put around 40 ex-slaves on a ship and sailed to Africa. He ported in Freetown, Sierra Leone, though sadly he passed the following year, and his goal to return pass American slaves to Africa passed with him. In later years a American man named Jehudi Ashmun wrote an article about the ACS’s efforts to return former slaves to Africa. Jehudi traveled and arrived in Liberia in 1822, he then attempted to gain more land for the colony, and within a few years he had made an agreement with the tribal chiefs to have ownership of more land. Around this time other settlers started to occupy the coast with other philanthropic organizations. Some Liberian Towns such as Greenville and Harper were formed this way.
In 1839, Thomas BoRough draft American Slavery started in 1650 and ended in 1794, 24 years later the Grain Coast was recommended as a place to live for former American slaves. In later years, around 1818, multiple US government officials sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with representatives from the American Colonization Society (ACS), and with African tribal chiefs, discussed Americans migrating to the land between today’s Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. The tribal chiefs turned down the Americans offer for many years, though in 1821, King Peter, agreed with the American Colonization Society and gave them ownership over the land. In the coming years the ACS and other philanthropic organizations oversaw the return of former American slaves to Africa. During this time, the land that the slaves were sent to was the size of current day Monrovia. (Cultures of the world: liberia. Author: Ievy)
edwin barclayWilliam Vacanarat Shadrach TubmanWilliam R. Tolbert, Jr |
At that time, it was the largest rubber plantation in the world and was Liberia's largest employer during those times. An unfortunate problem when Liberia was accused being involved with transporting Africans, who were more or less slaves, to Spanish Guinea. The president of Liberia failed to fix this and resigned soon after. The new president, Edwin Barclay, was elated as well as a new administration. More financial problems occurred and the League of Nations got involved. They loaned Liberia money and a change in positions in administration. (Cultures of the world: Liberia. Author: Ivey)
Once World War II began, Liberia changed its currency to Liberia coins, instead of Euros. A few years later in 1943, the current president of Liberia thought that Liberia's problems has gone out of their control and asked the multiple US presidents for assistance. After the liberian president, Edwin Barclay, had passed away, William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, was elected. William V.S. Tubman was one of Liberia's most favorable presidents. One of his first acts was to declare war on Nazi Germany and Japan. Liberia was relied on by the Allied powers for supplies, the Free port in Moravia and Liberia's first airstrip was built during this time. After the events of World War II, Liberia went through many positive changes. One being an expansion on education. Another being the incorporation of mining iron ore. There was also encouragement of new methods in agriculture. With the reproduction of iron and rubber, Tubman began to develop Moravia, and in 1949, a new capitol building was built. With the US Government help, hydroelectric plants were built, as well as, roads, sewers, and highways. Liberia has also opened ship registration, where ships would have to bear the Liberian flag to enter the port/harbor. This made Liberia solvent for the first time in history. (Liberia's History) |
A man named William R. Tolbert, Jr., replaced William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman as the new president of Liberia after his death. Liberia at the time was the most stable out of all the African countries. Industrial and agricultural progress was at its peak in Liberia. Sadly, Tolbert and other high ranking officials in the government died in a coup and chanted “We are now free”. (Liberia's History)
Samuel K. Doe, a Librarian Master Sergeant, formed a band of rebels and staged a coup d'etat, and claimed himself as President of Liberia. Doe’s made major changes in the government in 1985. There was abuse to human rights, illegal government activity, and much more ethnic tension(later in history it is found out that ethnic tension was the reason Doe staged the coup d’etat). Living conditions fell fast and hard in Liberia. Though Doe’s new way of leadership was harsh, he was still able to receive financial support from president Ronald Reagan of the USA. A small band of rebels led by Charles Taylor, who was Doe’s past procurement chief invaded Liberia in 1989, on December 24. Charles Taylor gained support from a countless amount of Liberians and between the years 1989 and 1996, one of Africas most tragic and horrific wars began. Over 200,000 Liberians lost there lives, and almost a million fled the country. In 1990,The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) injected themselves in the war and succeeded in stopping Charles Taylor from gaining Monrovia. A man named Prince Johnson, who was formerly a member of Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), made the break-away Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). Johnson's troops captured and murdered Doe in 1990, September 9. Taking refuge in Sierra Leone and other neighboring countries, past AFL(Armed Forces of Liberia) soldiers founded the new insurgent United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), fighting against Taylor's NPFL. (Gobaledge: Liberia History) |
Samuel k. doeCharles taylor |
some damage of the first civil war
Rebels from the SECOND civil war |
Multiple peace attempts have been made with Taylor, which ended in with him disagreeing with them and continuing the war. Taylor did agree to a five-man transitional government. In 1997, on July 19, elections were held, Taylor won both the war and the elections. He won the elections due to fear that if he did not win it would start another war.
6 years after, living condition in Liberia did not improve, some say it worsened, due to the government not knowing what to do because they had so many problems to handle. Some problems in Liberia, that may still exist today(2014) are little, to no, electricity, unhealthy water, financial problems, and more(include link to problems here) Around the year 2003, outraged Librarians, formed armed groups to take back their country by force, thus creating a second civil war in Liberia. The war did not benefit anyone, for it made problems in Liberia even worse than they were before. This second civil war made Liberia, to some people, become an unfix-able country, and making the list of one of the worst place to live on earth. During the same year, a cease fire was announced, but no one obeyed it. With multiple peace attempts failing, and news of the tragedy reaching the world, America stepped in. In 2003, August 11, Charles Taylor, resigned office and has rumored to escape to Nigeria, this was due to massive U.S and International pressure. (Gobaledge: Liberia History) |
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
2 years later, a new presidential election was held. This election was the most fairest and safest election Liberia has had in its history. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf gained the largest vote, and became Africa's first democratic elected female president. She was officially took office in January, 2006. And has made many positive changes to her broken country, such as disarm around 100,000 rebels and citizens. She stand president for six years and was re-elected in 2012. (Gobaledge: Liberia History)
|