This guest post was excerpted from a post by Angel Batiste, Area Specialist for sub-Saharan Africa in the Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division. Click here to find the original post in the “4 Corners of the World” blog.
On July 26, 1847, Americo-Liberians declared the independence of the Republic of Liberia.
The West African country of Liberia shares special historical ties to the United States, dating back to its founding in 1822 by former slaves and free-born blacks from the United States under the sponsorship of the American Colonization Society (ACS). Established in 1816, the ACS was chartered to send freed slaves to Africa as an alternative to emancipation in the United States.
Between 1822 and the American Civil War, the Society assisted in the repatriation of nearly 19,000 American-born blacks to Liberia. Prominent supporters of the ACS efforts were Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe.
Both blacks and whites were divided on this movement back to Africa. Some blacks supported emigration because they thought that black Americans would never receive justice in the United States. Others believed African Americans should remain in the United States to fight against slavery and for full legal rights as American citizens. Many whites saw colonization as a way to rid the nation of its black population, while others believed that freed blacks could realize their potential better in Africa free of racial discrimination. Still others believed black American colonists could play a central role in Christianizing and civilizing Africa.
Initially the colony was run by the ACS, which maintained control over all aspects of governance. Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, was named after the United States president James Monroe, and its government was modeled on that of the United States. Joseph Jenkins Roberts, American-born native of Virginia, was elected the first African American President of the new nation. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln extended official diplomatic recognition to Liberia. Ten of Liberia’s 23 presidents were American born.
The root of Liberia’s present-day political problems can be traced back to conflicts between the descendants of American freed slaves settled during the 19th Century and the indigenous ethnic groups. The African American colonizers formed an “Americo-Liberian” elite and recreated a two-tiered American society based on ethnicity and class, not unlike the one they had left in the hope of finding a better life and freedom. The colonizers spoke English and established in Liberia many of the customs of America’s southern states, including forms of social interaction, religion, dress, and architecture. They discriminated against the indigenous ethnic groups in the nation’s social, civic and political life, and attempted to replace their traditional religious beliefs with Protestant Christianity.
Students may examine and analyze early maps of Liberia, photographs of emigrants, images of homes built by settlers, correspondence, letters, and stories to better understand the complicated history of Liberia. They might consider:
- Why did early-19th century African Americans seek freedom beyond the borders of the United States by emigrating to Liberia?
- What were the opinions and motivations for freeborn and freed persons’ interest in returning to Africa?
- What were the challenges of resettlement among Liberian emigrants?
What surprised your students about the history of Liberia?
Comments (13)
This is wonderful. Thank you!
Africa stopped making significant progress the very day Liberia lost her purpose! When we as Liberians regain our consciousness,it will inevitably have a trickle down effect on the entire continent!
Thanks!
I believe that Liberia is not colonization and we need to
Dr. Batiste, was a great source & help in he setting up the “The Ambassador’s Library” at the Embassy in D.C. The library/idea was a Brain child of H.E. Charles A. Minor.
That’s nice even though I am from Nigeria one day I will visit this first liberated nation In my great continent Africa just to see their standard of living
To say that Liberia is the oldest independent African nation in Africa is a complete Lie or or purposely spreading false narrative for what ever reason they wanted to achieve. I suspect as usual the colonialists agenda for Africa was that Africans are not Civilized and need “help to educate” . The cover for their criminal land stilling and exploitation of the-whole continent.
But the truth is that Many African nations have existed as an independent nations at list since the biblical time. The Bible mentioned some independent nations with kings and governments existed far longer than what is said here to degrade the African people.
Another way to know is an African nations was accepted Christianity and build churches before many European nations had any kind of sensible religion. That’s fact.
I wonder how title “Africa’s Oldest Independent and Democratic Republic”. While there is a entirely Independent/Uncolonized state-Ethiopia, how Liberia can be called ‘oldest, independent’? While Ethiopia is oldest statehood in the world, how could not be in Africa? Liberia established in 1822, but Ethiopia existed 3,000BC. Anyways, thank you for the attractive story.
I wonder how title “Africa’s Oldest Independent and Democratic Republic” was given. While there is a entirely Independent/Uncolonized state-Ethiopia, how Liberia can be called ‘oldest, independent’? While Ethiopia is oldest statehood in the world, how could not be in Africa? Liberia established in 1822, but Ethiopia existed since 3,000 BC (all time uncolonized except the 5 years invasion by Italy).
Anyways, thank you for the attractive story.
I disagree with you that Liberia is the African country to gain independence first. To gain independence means “to free oneself from colonial rule and administration.” Liberia was never colonized, so how come Ghana isn’t the first African country to gain independence. Thank you!
I disagree with the fact that Liberia is the African country to gain independence first. To gain independence means “to free oneself from colonial rule and administration.” Liberia was never colonized, so how come Ghana isn’t the first African country to gain independence. Thank you!
After all we are still the poorest country in Africa
Most of my fellow comrades may be having mixed view when it come to the oldest country in africa.but there is just a common realities that is lacking.for instance if someone tells you that liberia is the oldest black african republic what will you doubt it?when ofcouse it is a fact.history has clearly written it that the country liberia was founded in 1822 and gained it independent in 1847 but it is a sad reality to noticed that we human by nature are highly political so we just politicized everythings including history which before our existance.