History UsefulNotes / Liberia

The early decades saw a society tiered between the ruling mulatto (mixed-race) class and darker skinned settlers, who were represented by the Republican and True Whig parties, respectively. The Republican Party faded from relevance, eventually dissolving in 1899, leaving Liberia an effective one-party state under the True Whigs (though other parties were never banned). By that time, the True Whigs had become all but indistinguishable from the local Freemasons. Prince Hall Freemasonry, a distinctively African-American form of Freemasonry, had been introduced to Liberia in the late 1860s. It became so influential there that Masonic membership was a virtual prerequisite for TWP leadership, with matters of state believed to have been decided within the lodges. The Liberian Freemasons were heavily criticized not only for their political influence, but also for excluding indigenous Liberians from their ranks. The majority native population would not be involved politically in the new republic until the 1980s. Despite the high mortality rate amongst the settlers there was some success in agriculture and development in the coastal towns, but Liberia's economy remained largely commodity based as developments outside the country outpaced it. Colonial powers would come to surround the new republic and seek to influence it to their will. Decades of struggle created a cultural identity among the settlers, unique in that it was neither truly African nor truly American but a synthesis of both. Political issues within the country included whether to pursue an isolationist or Atlanticist foreign policy, how to treat the natives, and various issues surrounding corruption. A notable event was when, allegedly seeking to run up a sovereign debt in an attempt to boost economic output, the 5th President of Liberia Edward James Roye acquired an eye-watering loan of $500,000 from London financiers. Naturally, this provoked fury. Roye's critics caught up with him and he became the first sitting Liberian president to be murdered in office; he would not be the last. There were no easy solutions to the backward economy, staggering levels of debt, and the ever-present tensions that plagued the Liberian state.

** President: George Weah
** Vice President: Jewel Taylor
** House Speaker: Bhofal Chambers

* '''Area:''' 111,369 km
(43,000 sq mi) (123rd)

The early decades saw a society tiered between the ruling mulatto (mixed-race) class and darker skinned settlers, who were represented by the Republican and True Whig parties, respectively. The Republican Party faded from relevance, eventually dissolving in 1899, leaving Liberia a one-party state under the True Whigs. The majority native population would not be involved politically in the new republic until the 1980s. Despite the high mortality rate amongst the settlers there was some success in agriculture and development in the coastal towns, but Liberia's economy remained largely commodity based as developments outside the country outpaced it. Colonial powers would come to surround the new republic and seek to influence it to their will. Decades of struggle created a cultural identity among the settlers, unique in that it was neither truly African nor truly American but a synthesis of both. Political issues within the country included whether to pursue an isolationist or Atlanticist foreign policy, how to treat the natives, and various issues surrounding corruption. A notable event was when, allegedly seeking to run up a sovereign debt in an attempt to boost economic output, the 5th President of Liberia Edward James Roye acquired an eye-watering loan of $500,000 from London financiers. Naturally, this provoked fury. Roye's critics caught up with him and he became the first sitting Liberian president to be murdered in office; he would not be the last. There were no easy solutions to the backward economy, staggering levels of debt, and the ever-present tensions that plagued the Liberian state.

UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant [[TheGeneralissimo Samuel K. Doe]] leading a [[MilitaryCoup coup]] against Tolbert's government, [[TheKingslayer murdering the President in his bed]] and [[PublicExecution executing most of the cabinet on the beach in front of a baying mob]] after a [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner series of show trials]]. Conspiracies abound as to whether the [[RegimeChange CIA was involved in destabilizing the regime]] due to Tolbert's changes in foreign policy. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, [[FromBadToWorse a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution]]. This ended 133 years of Americo rule and triggered a mass exodus, with many seeking asylum in the USA. Doe attempted to legitimize his regime by dissolving the People's Redemption Council in 1984, trying to pass a new constitution and holding (fraudulent) elections in 1985. Internationally, Doe's reign represented a return to pro-US policies and gained the approval of the Reagan administration. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to [[FullCircleRevolution enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest]].

** Chief Justice: Francis Korkpor

The '''Republic of Liberia''' was formed by the American Colonization Society as a means of sending freed slaves back to Africa, and also allegedly planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. It also served a purpose as a dual means of removing freed blacks from North America. The early settlers were made up of these daring folk, who had mostly grown up in the USA and would come to realise the hard way that they unaccustomed to the harsh tropical climate. For local tribes, slavery was a huge source of income and they followed native religions. The settlers wanted to abolish slavery and follow Protestant Christianity imported from their life in the US. Naturally the two groups came to blows but the settlers, who would come to be called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americo-Liberian_people Americo-Liberians]], founded Monrovia and other settlements along the coast. After numerous attempts, independence was declared from the ACS in 1847 and the settlements would come to merge under Monrovia's authority.

A formerly war-torn country in the west coast of Africa, neighbouring UsefulNotes/SierraLeone. You probably heard it as the home country of [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball legendary striker]] George Weah, as well as Raiden from the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series. Like its neighbour, it was settled as a colony for freed slaves, this time from America. Thus the capital is named Monrovia, in honour of UsefulNotes/JamesMonroe whose plans helped the idea of resettlement back in Africa come to exist.

The '''Republic of Liberia''' was formed by the American Colonization Society as a means of sending freed slaves back to Africa, and also allegedly planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. It also served a purpose as a duals means of removing freed blacks from North America. The early settlers were made up of these daring folk, who had mostly grown up in the USA and would come to realise the hard way that they unaccustomed to the harsh tropical climate. For local tribes, slavery was a huge source of income and they followed native religions. The settlers wanted to abolish slavery and follow Protestant Christianity imported from their life in the US. Naturally the two groups came to blow but the settlers, who would come to be called Americo-Liberians, founded Monrovia and other settlements along the coast. After numerous attempts, independence was declared from the ACS in 1847 and the settlements would come to merge under Monrovia's authority.

The early decades saw a society tiered between the ruling mulatto (mixed-race) class and darker skinned settlers, who were Republican and True Whig parties, respectively. The Republican Party faded from relevance, eventually dissolving in 1899, leaving Liberia a one-party state under the True Whigs. The majority native population would not be involved politically in the new republic. Despite the high mortality rate amongst the settlers there was some success in agriculture and development in the coastal towns, but Liberia's economy remained largely commodity based as developments outside the country outpaced it. Colonial powers would come to surround the new republic and seek to influence it to its will. Decades of struggle created a cultural identity among the settlers, unique in that it was neither truly Africa nor truly American but a synthesis of both. Political issues within the country included whether to pursue an isolationist or Atlanticist foreign policy, how to treat the natives, and various issues surrounding corruption. A notable event was when, allegedly seeking to run up a sovereign debt in an attempt to boost economic output, the 5th President of Liberia Edward James Roye acquired an eye-watering loan of $500,000 from London financiers. Naturally, this provoked fury. Roye's critics caught up with him and he became the first sitting Liberian president to be murdered in office; he would not be the last. There were no easy solutions to the backward economy, staggering levels of debt, and the ever-present tensions that plagued the Liberian state.

General elections were held in 1927. Charles B.D King won what is now considered "the most fraudulent election in history" with 243,000 votes. There were 15,000 registered voters. His rival Thomas J. Faulkner had the last laugh, reporting the True Whig party to the League of Nations, accusing them of using forced labor both at home and selling slaves to the Spanish colony of Fernando Bo (what is now Bioko in Equatorial Guinea) to work in back-breaking conditions where survival rates were low. Despite the government's refusal to co-operate, the [=LoN=] committee uncovered evidence proving the claims to be true. In the eyes of the international community, things had gone full-circle, with the settlers now treating native Africans as their ancestors had been treated when they were enslaved. Amidst shock both at home and abroad, President King resigned in disgrace.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who took to wearing a safari suit when out and about, as opposed to his predecessor's Western-style dress. Tolbert had sympathies with both the Soviet Union and Mao's China, was a fierce critic of Israel, and sought to distance Liberia from the West and [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar join the Non-Aligned Movement]]. Compared to his predecessors, he was not well-liked by the USA. Widespread corruption, political unrest and falling rubber prices contributed to increasing unrest and instability, creating a tinderbox where the historic tensions between the natives and the settler elite threatened to explode. In 1979 there were the Rice Riots, where the price of Liberia's staple food rocketed, partly due to price controls implemented by the government. A peaceful protest rapidly became a destructive mob, triggering government reprisals. After this, Tolbert's credibility hit the floor.

UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant [[TheGeneralissimo Samuel K. Doe]] leading a [[MilitaryCoup coup]] against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and [[PublicExecution executing most of the cabinet on the beach in front of a baying mob]] after a [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner series of show trials]]. Conspiracies abound as to whether the [[RegimeChange CIA was involved in destabilizing the regime]] due to Tolbert's changes in foreign policy. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, [[FromBadToWorse a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution]]. This ended 133 years of Americo rule and triggered a mass exodus, with many seeking asylum in the USA. Doe attempted to legitimize his regime by dissolving the People's Redemption Council in 1984, trying to pass a new constitution and holding (fraudulent) elections in 1985. Internationally, Doe's reign represented a return to pro-US policies and gained the approval of the Reagan administration. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to [[FullCircleRevolution enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest]].

* AwesomeButImpractical: Building an elitist colonial settler state remiscent of the antebellum South, complete with 19th century plantation houses, top hats, morning coats and Masonic lodges, all in the sticky tropical heat of the African bush. What could go wrong?

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Pandering to foreign corporations such as Firestone was historically key to gaining the revenue necessary to pay off the national debt and maintain stability. More recently Charles Taylor turned a profit from allowing exploitation of the countries raw materials by shadowy cartels and corporations.

* TheGeneralissimo: Samuel Doe, altough he was only a 29-year old sergeant when he came to power.

* '''Highest point:''' Mount Wuteve (1440 m/4,724 ft) (154th)

* '''Highest point:''' Mount Wuteve (1440 m/4,724 ft) (139th)

* '''Highest point:''' Mount Wuteve (1440 m/4,724 ft) (157th)

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' LR

[[AC: The Liberian flag]]
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/liberia_flag_9603.png
->The flag shares a similar design to that of the United States, alluding to the country's origins in the American Colonization Society. Eleven alternating stripes of red (symbolizing valor) and white (symbolizing purity) recall eleven men who signed the Liberian Declaration of Independence -- Samuel Benedict, John Day, Anthony William Gardiner, J.B. Gripon, Amos Herring, Elijah Johnson, John Lewis, Richard Murray, Jacob Prout, Ephraim Titler, and Beverly Wilson; the blue (symbolizing fidelity) canton symbolizes Africa, and the white star symbolizes freedom.

The '''Republic of Liberia''' was formed by the American Colonisation Society as a means of sending freed slaves back to Africa, and also allegedly planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. It also served a purpose as a duals means of removing freed blacks from North America. The early settlers were made up of these daring folk, who had mostly grown up in the USA and would come to realise the hard way that they unaccustomed to the harsh tropical climate. For local tribes, slavery was a huge source of income and they followed native religions. The settlers wanted to abolish slavery and follow Protestant Christianity imported from their life in the US. Naturally the two groups came to blow but the settlers, who would come to be called Americo-Liberians, founded Monrovia and other settlements along the coast. After numerous attempts, independence was declared from the ACS in 1847 and the settlements would come to merge under Monrovia's authority.

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Liberia was formed by the American Colonisation Society as a means of sending freed slaves back to Africa, and also allegedly planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. It also served a purpose as a duals means of removing freed blacks from North America. The early settlers were made up of these daring folk, who had mostly grown up in the USA and would come to realise the hard way that they unaccustomed to the harsh tropical climate. For local tribes, slavery was a huge source of income and they followed native religions. The settlers wanted to abolish slavery and follow Protestant Christianity imported from their life in the US. Naturally the two groups came to blow but the settlers, who would come to be called Americo-Liberians, founded Monrovia and other settlements along the coast. After numerous attempts, independence was declared from the ACS in 1847 and the settlements would come to merge under Monrovia's authority.