History UsefulNotes / Liberia

In time however, the Americos were able to gain a foothold, establishing a series of settlements along the coast, the largest being Monrovia. Independence was declared from the ACS in 1847. The educated among the settler ranks brought a mercantile tradition from their lives as freed blacks in the States and a small economy developed based on the trade of commodities such as palm oil, sugarcane and coffee. These 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 natives were disregarded altogether.

A lifeline came in the 1920s when rubber magnate Henry Firestone sought to capitalize on the rubber boom by establishing his own source of natural rubber. An agreement was reached whereby, in exchange for access to the country's rubber, the corporation would lend the Liberian government money in order to pay off its debts to London and develop the infrastructure needed to ship the resource out of the country. This stoked further controversy among the settlers; as the company had complete authority over the government's revenues until the loan was paid, the agreement effectively turned Liberia into a protectorate of Firestone Corporation.

UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe leading a 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]]. Conspiracies abound as to whether the 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. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who was not well-liked by the USA because he sought to distance Liberia from the West and join the non-aligned movement. Tubman had sympathies with both the Soviet Union and Mao's China, and took to wearing a safari suit when out and about, as opposed to his predecessor's Western-style dress. 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 Samuel K. Doe leading a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and executing most of the cabinet on the beach in front of a baying mob. Conspiracies abound as to whether the 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. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

From the 1940s the Atlanticist tendency dominated the thinking of those in power. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of strong economic development, spurred by foreign investment, particularly from the US. As a fervent anti-communist, he took the US [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar The Cold War]], cementing the nation as a key bulwark against communism in West Africa. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. The debt with Firestone was paid off in 1952. Political reforms were also implemented, with universal suffrage being introduced in the '50s and more native-born Liberians educated than ever before (although rampant nepotism meant that top opportunities remained the domain of the Americo-Liberians). Tourism also boomed; at a time when most African countries were fighting civil wars or wars of liberation, as Africa's first Republic Liberia remained a stable country where the elites of the continent could safely take their holidays.

Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism with repression of rival political parties and trade unions. A gunman allegedly tried to assassinate him in 1955 (whether it was an assassination attempt or an unfortunate misunderstanding is open to interpretation), which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman had proved to be an astute and steady ruler. However, he died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who attempted to carry on his predecessor's economic legacy with a few key political differences. Tolbert attempted to ease Tubman's repressive measures, which earned scorn from the Americo community. He also moved Liberia away from the US bloc and to the Non-Aligned Movement, whilst formally establishing relations with both Mao's China and the Soviet Union. Widespread corruption and the decline of rubber prices in the 70s contributed to an escalating state of unrest and discontent with the sitting government, which the climate of reduced repression ironically served to exacerbate. Demands for more power and influence amongst an increasingly educated and aware native-born population, combined with demands from the Americo-Liberians to keep the natives out of any decision making, created a tinderbox that would soon 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. As a result, the president's credibility hit the floor.

UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with barely literate Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe leading a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and marching most of the Americo cabinet out to be executed on the beach in Monrovia. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution. This represented the end of 133 years of Americo rule and the first time that a native-born person had led the country. Conspiracies abound as to CIA involvement in destabilizing the regime due Tolbert's changes in foreign policy. 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. Styling himself after Ronald Reagan, Doe continued the recent Americo tradition of courting US support. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

George Weah became president in 2018, in the first peaceful democratic handover of power since the Americo-Liberians ruled.

From the 1940s the Atlanticist tendency dominated the thinking of those in power. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of strong economic development, spurred by foreign investment, particularly from the US. As a fervent anti-communist, he took the US [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar The Cold War]], cementing the nation as a key bulwark against communism in West Africa. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. The debt with Firestone was paid off in 1952. Political reforms were also implemented, with universal suffrage being introduced in the '50s and more native-born Liberians educated than ever before (although rampant nepotism meant that top opportunities remained the domain of the Americo-Liberians). At a time when African countries were fighting civil wars or wars against colonialism, Liberia was a stable country where the elites of the continent could safely take their holidays.

Liberia's early history was tumultuous. Originally formed as by the American Colonisation Society as a means of 1) sending freed slaves back to Africa and 2) planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. However, the early settler's idealism came to blows with the reality of trying to form a society in a harsh tropical climate that they were unfamiliar with and had done no serious planning for. Attempts to interact with the natives were met with hostility, as while these new arrivals were black, they were nonetheless outsiders. Serving to add friction was the settlers desire to end the slave trade and convert the natives to Christianity. This was problematic as trading slaves was a major source of income for the local chieftains, and few took kindly to attempts to turn them away from tribal religions.

In time however, the Americos were able to gain a foothold, establishing a series of settlements along the coast, the largest being Monrovia. Independence was declared from the ACS in 1847. The educated among the settler ranks brought a mercantile tradition from their lives as freed blacks in the States. Economic development in commodities such as palm oil, sugarcane, and coffee allowed the growth of a small mercantile elite, dominated by mulattos. Distrust and tension between mulattos and darker skinned settlers would be prevalent throughout the state's early history. This, combined with the ongoing issues with the natives, resulted in a tiered, greatly divided society.

Despite some early success in agriculture and some development in the coastal towns, wider technological developments swiftly made Liberia's economic practices outdated. 5th President of Liberia Edward James Roye, attempting to run up a deficit (as with modern nation states) in order to develop the economy, acquired an eye-watering loan of $500,000 from London financiers. However, this was wildly unpopular and Roye met a violent end when his critics caught up with him. Roye was the first sitting Liberian president to be murdered in office; he would not be the last.

In subsequent decades the idealism of the early settlers gave way to realpolitik, as the Americo-Liberians, by now culturally different from both Africans and Americans, doubled down to protect their way of life in the face of hostility on all sides. The existence of the state was a delicate balancing act, with much disagreement among the settlers about whether to pursue isolationist or Atlanticist policies, and how to treat the natives. Faced with a backward economy, staggering levels of debt, and the ever-present tensions with the natives, there were no easy answers for the issues facing the Americo rulers.

A lifeline came in the 1920s when rubber magnate Henry Firestone sought to capitalize on the rubber boom by establishing his own source of natural rubber. An agreement was reached whereby the corporation would lend the Liberian government money in order to pay off its debts to London and develop the infrastructure needed to ship rubber out of the country. This led to further controversy among the settlers, as the agreement effectively turned Liberia into a protectorate of Firestone, as the company had complete authority over the government's revenues until the loan was paid.

A scandal involving Liberia came to light in the 1930s, which showed that certain elements of the settler class (including the president Charles King, who was directly implicated in the scandal) had been rounding up natives to work in Fernando Po (what is now Bioko in Equatorial Guinea), in back-breaking conditions where survival was uncommon. Hence, a state founded by free slaves aiming to end slavery had gone full-circle and was now treating native Africans as their ancestors had been treated when they were enslaved. Amidst shock in both Liberia and abroad, President King resigned in disgrace.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. As a fervent anti-communist, he took the US [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar The Cold War]], cementing the nation as a key bulwark against communism in West Africa. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. The debt with Firestone was paid off in 1952. Political reforms were also implemented, with universal suffrage being introduced in the '50s and more native-born Liberians educated than ever before (although rampant nepotism meant that top opportunities remained the domain of the Americo-Liberians) Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism with repression of rival political parties and trade unions. A gunman allegedly tried to assassinate him in 1955 (whether it was an assassination attempt or an unfortunate misunderstanding is open to interpretation), which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman had proved to be an astute and steady ruler. However, he died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

A 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 itts 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.

A lifeline came in the 1920s when rubber magnate Henry Firestone sought to capitalise on the rubber boom by establishing his own source of natural rubber. An agreement was reached whereby the corporation would lend the Liberian government money in order to pay off its debts to London and develop the infrastructure needed to ship rubber out of the country. This led to further controversy amongst the settlers, as the agreement effectively turned Liberia into a protectorate of Firestone, as the company had complete authority over the government's revenues until the loan was paid.

A scandal involving Liberia came to light in the 1930s, which showed that certain elements of the settler class (including the president Charles King, who was directly implicated in the scandal) had been rounding up natives to work in Fernando Po (what is now Bioko in Equatorial Guinea), in back-breaking conditions where survival was uncommon. Hence, a state founded by free slaves aiming to end slavery had gone full-circle and was now treating native Africans as their ancestors had been treated when they were enslaved. Amidst shock in Monrovia, President King resigned in disgrace.

UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe leading a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and marching most of the Americo cabinet out to be executed on the beach in Monrovia. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution. This represented the end of 133 years of Americo rule and the first time that a native-born person had led the country. 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. Styling himself after Ronald Reagan, Doe continued the recent Americo tradition of courting US support. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

George Weah is now the president in the first peaceful democratic handover of power in the country's recent history.

** During the post-war boom period, President Tubman shelled out a vast sum for a Presidential Yacht. His reasoning of course was on the grounds of national pride, and definitely not personal pleasure/enrichment.

A scandal involving Liberia came to light in the 1930s, which showed that certain elements of the settler class had been rounding up natives to work in Fernando Po (what is now Bioko in Equatorial Guinea), in back-breaking conditions where survival was uncommon. Hence, a state founded by free slaves aiming to end slavery had gone full-circle and was now treating native Africans as their ancestors had been treated when they were enslaved.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who attempted to carry on his predecessor's economic legacy with a few key political differences. Tolbert attempted to ease Tubman's repressive measures, which earned scorn from the Americo community. He also moved Liberia away from the US bloc and to the Non-Aligned Movement, whilst formally establishing relations with both Mao's China and the Soviet Union. Widespread corruption and the decline of rubber prices in the 70s contributed to an escalating state of unrest and discontent with the sitting government, which the climate of reduced repression ironically served to exacerbate. Demands for more power and influence amongst an increasingly educated and aware native-born population, combined with demands from the Americo-Liberians to keep the natives out of any decision making, created a tinderbox that would soon 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. Incidentally, most of the country's domestic rice production was controlled by the Tolbert family. A peaceful protest rapidly became a destructive mob, triggering government repression and condemnation. As a result, the president's credibility hit the floor.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. He also picked a side in the [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar The Cold War]], courting the approval of the likes of JFK and LBJ to be seen as a key bulwark against communism in the region. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. The debt with Firestone was paid off in 1952. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism and repression. A gunman tried to assassinate him in 1955, which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who attempted to carry on his predecessor's legacy. However, widespread corruption and the decline of rubber prices in the 70s contributed to an escalating state of unrest and discontent with the sitting government. Demands among the natives for more power and influence, combined with demands from the Americo-Liberians to keep the natives out of any decision making, created a tinderbox that would soon explode. In 1979 there were the Rice Riots, where the price of Liberia's staple food rocketed and a peaceful protest rapidly became a destructive mob, triggering government repression and condemnation. As a result Tolbert's credibility hit the floor. UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe leading a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and marching most of the Americo cabinet out to be executed on the beach in Monrovia. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution. This represented the end of 133 years of Americo rule and the first time that a native-born person had led the country. 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. Styling himself after Ronald Reagan, Doe continued the recent Americo tradition of courting US support. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. He also picked a side in the Cold War, courting the approval of the likes of JFK and LBJ to be seen as a key bulwark against communism in the region. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. The debt with Firestone was paid off in 1952. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism and repression. A gunman tried to assassinate him in 1955, which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

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

In subsequent decades the idealism of the early settlers gave way to realpolitik, as the Americo-Liberians, by now culturally different from both Africans and Americans, doubled down to protect their way of life in the face of hostility on all sides. The existence of the state was a delicate balancing act, with much disagreement among the settlers about whether to pursue isolationist or Atlanticist policies. Faced with a backward economy, staggering levels of debt, and the ever-present tensions with the natives, there were no easy answers for the issues facing the Americo rulers.

A 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.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who attempted to carry on his predecessor's legacy. However, widespread corruption and the decline of rubber prices in the 70s contributed to an escalating state of unrest and discontent with the sitting government. Demands among the natives for more power and influence, combined with demands from the Americo-Liberians to keep the natives out of any decision making, created a tinderbox that would soon explode. In 1979 there were the Rice Riots, where the price of Liberia's staple food rocketed and a peaceful protest rapidly became a destructive mob, triggering government repression and condemnation. As a result Tolbert's credibility hit the floor. UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe to lead a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and marching most of the Americo cabinet out to be executed on the beach in Monrovia. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution. This represented the end of 133 years of Americo rule and the first time that a native-born person had led the country. 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. Styling himself after Ronald Reagan, Doe continued the recent Americo tradition of courting US support. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

George Weah is now the president.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who attempted to carry on his predecessor's legacy. However, widespread corruption and the decline of rubber prices in the 70s contributed to an escalating state of unrest and discontent with the sitting government. Demands among the natives for more power and influence, combined with demands from the Americo-Liberians to keep the natives out of any decision making, created a tinderbox that would soon explode. In 1979 there were the Rice Riots, where the price of Liberia's staple food rocketed and a peaceful protest rapidly became a destructive mob, triggering government repression and condemnation. As a result Tolbert's credibility hit the floor. UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe to leading a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and marching most of the Americo cabinet out to be executed on the beach in Monrovia. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution. This represented the end of 133 years of Americo rule and the first time that a native-born person had led the country. 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. Styling himself after Ronald Reagan, Doe continued the recent Americo tradition of courting US support. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. He also picked a side in the Cold War, courting the approval of the likes of JFK and LBJ to be seen as a key bulwark against communism in the region. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism and repression. A gunman tried to assassinate him in 1955, which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

Liberia's early history was tumultuous. Originally formed as by the American Colonisation Society as a means of 1) sending freed slaves back to Africa and 2) planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. However, the early settler's idealism camein to blows with the reality of trying to form a society in a harsh tropical climate that they were unfamiliar with and had done no serious planning for. Attempts to interact with the natives were met with hostility, as while these new arrivals were black, they were nonetheless outsiders. Serving to add friction was the settlers desire to end the slave trade and convert the natives to Christianity. This was problematic as trading slaves was a major source of income for the local chieftains, and few took kindly to attempts to turn them away from tribal religions.

A scandal involving Liberia came to light in the 1930s, which showed that certain elements of the settler class had been rounding up natives to work in what is now Equatorial Guinea, in back-breaking conditions where survival was uncommon. Hence, a state founded by free slaves aiming to end slavery had gone full-circle and was now treating native Africans as their ancestors had been treated when they were enslaved.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. He also picked a side in the Cold War, courting the approval of the likes of JFK and LBJ to be seen as a key bulwark against communism in the region. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism and settler control. A gunman tried to assassinate Tubman in 1955, which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who attempted to carry on his predecessor's legacy. However, widespread corruption and the decline of rubber prices in the 70s contributed to an escalating state of unrest and discontent with the sitting government. Demands among the natives for more power and influence, combined with demands from the Americo-Liberians to keep the natives out of any decision making, created a tinderbox that would soon explode. In 1979 there were the Rice Riots, where the price of Liberia's staple food rocketed and a peaceful protest rapidly became a destructive mob, triggering government repression and condemnation. As a result Tolbert's credibility hit the floor. UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe to leading a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and marching most of the Americo cabinet out to be executed on the beach in Monrovia. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution and would rule the country until 1984. This represented the end of 133 years of Americo rule and the first time that a native-born person had led the country. Doe attempted to legitimize his regime by passing a new constitution and holding (fraudulent) elections in 1985, and, styling himself after Ronald Reagan, continued the Americo tradition of courting US support. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich members of his native Krahn tribe.

Liberia's early history was tumultuous. Originally formed as by the American Colonisation Society as a means of 1) sending freed slaves back to Africa and 2) planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. However, the early settler's idealism came to blows with the reality of trying to form a society in a harsh tropical climate that they were unfamiliar with and had done no serious planning for. Attempts to interact with the natives were met with hostility, as while these new arrivals were black, they were nonetheless outsiders. Serving to add friction was the settlers desire to end the slave trade and convert the natives to Christianity. This was problematic as trading slaves was a major source of income for the local chieftains, and few took kindly to attempts to turn them away from tribal religions.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, who attempted to carry on his predecessor's legacy. However, widespread corruption and the decline of rubber prices in the 70s contributed to an escalating state of unrest and discontent with the sitting government. Demands among the natives for more power and influence, combined with demands from the Americo-Liberians to keep the natives out of any decision making, created a tinderbox that would soon explode. Following explosive rice riots in 1979, where the price of Liberia's staple food rocketed and a peaceful protest rapidly became a destructive mob, Tolbert's credibility hit the floor. UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant Samuel K. Doe to leading a coup against Tolbert's government, murdering the President in his bed and executing most of the Americo cabinet on the beach in Monrovia. The rebels established the People's Redemption Council, a military junta that dissolved the legislature and Constitution and would rule the country until 1984. This represented the end of 133 years of Americo rule and the first time that a native-born person had led the country. Doe attempted to legitimize his regime by passing a new constitution and holding (fraudulent) elections in 1985, and, styling himself after Ronald Reagan, continued the Americo tradition of courting US support. Nonetheless, he remained a tyrant in the eyes of many of his people, as he used his position to enrich members of his native Krahn tribe.

In subsequent decades the idealism of the early settlers gave way to realpolitik, as the Americo-Liberians, by now culturally different from both Africans and Americans, doubled down to protect their way of life in the face of hostility on all sides. The existence of the state was a delicate balancing act, with much disagreement among the settlers about whether to pursue isolationist or Atlanticist policies. Faced with a backward economy and staggering levels of debt, there were no easy answers for the Americo rulers.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. He also picked a side in the Cold War, courting the approval of the likes of JFK and LBJ to be seen as a key bulwark against communism in the region. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism and settler control. A gunman tried to assassinate Tubman in 1955, which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage (allegedly he would visit villages to settle disputes between husbands and wives personally), and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. He also picked a side in the Cold War, courting the approval of the likes of JFK and LBJ to be seen as a key bulwark against communism in the region. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism and settler control. A gunman tried to assassinate Tubman in 1955, which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

Come the 1940s, the Atlanticist tendency amongst the settler elite had begun to take hold. Liberia played a key strategic role in World War II, with a defense pact being signed with the US in 1942. The US built Robertsfield Airport and other infrastructure in exchange for permission to build a military base in the region. 1944 brought the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, who sought to bring the country closer to the USA. Tubman's rule brought a period of impressive economic development, spurred by foreign investment from the US and other countries. He also picked a side in the Cold War, courting the approval of the likes of JFK and LBJ to be seen as a key bulwark against communism in the region. By the end of Tubman's rule, Liberia was a major exporter of rubber and iron ore, as well as earning a tidy profit as a 'flag of convenience' country. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasingly authoritarianism and settler control. A gunman tried to assassinate Tubman in 1955, which only served to intensify his paranoia and tyrannical excesses. Having created an extensive network of patronage, and carefully balancing the conservatism of the Americo-Liberians with the desire of the natives to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity, Tubman died following surgery in London, ending 27 years of his rule.

In time however, the Americos were able to gain a foothold, establishing a series of settlements along the coast, the largest being Monrovia. Independence was declared from the ACS in 1847. The educated among the settler ranks brought a mercantile tradition from their lives as freed blacks in the States. Economic development in commodities such as palm oil, sugarcane, and coffee allowed the growth of a small mercantile elite, dominated by mulattos. Distrust and tension between mulattos and darker skinned settlers would be prevalent throughout the state's history. This, combined with the ongoing issues with the natives, naturally led to a tiered, divided society.

A scandal involving Liberia came to light in the 1930s, which showed that certain elements of the settler class had been rounding up natives to work in what is now Equatorial Guinea, in back-breaking conditions where survival was uncommon. Hence, a state founded by free slaves aiming to end slavery had gone full-circle and were now treating native Africans their ancestors had been treated when they were enslaved.

Such divisions between the settlers and the natives caused Samuel K. Doe to lead a coup against the then government of Liberia in UsefulNotes/TheEighties.

In time however, the Americos were able to gain a foothold, establishing a series of settlements along the coast, the largest being Monrovia. The educated among their ranks brought a mercantile tradition from their lives as freed blacks in the States. Economic development in commodities such as palm oil, sugarcane, and coffee allowed were able a small mercantile elite, dominated by mulattos, to emerge. Distrust between mulattos and darker skinned settlers added to the wider tensions between the settlers and the natives, and both of these themes would be prevalent throughout the state's history. Liberia's fortunes were made worse when the technological development rapidly outpaced the small-scale farming and trading of the settlers.

5th President of Liberia Edward James Roye attempted to put Liberia onto the path of being a modern state. He acquired an eye-watering loan of $500,000 from London financiers and with these borrowed funds wished to run up a current account deficit to develop the economy. However, this was wildly unpopular and Roye met a violent end when his critics caught up with him.

A slavery scandal racked Liberia in the Interwar period, which showed that certain elements of the settler class had been rounding up natives to work in what is now Equatorial Guinea. Hence the freed slaves were not particularly friendly towards the native Africans within Liberia's borders; in fact, they treated them as they had once been when enslaved. Such divisions between the settlers and the natives caused Samuel K. Doe to lead a coup against the then government of Liberia in UsefulNotes/TheEighties.

A 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 freed slaves were not particularly friendly towards the native Africans within Liberia's borders; in fact, they treated them as they had once been when enslaved. Such divisions between the settlers and the natives caused Samuel K. Doe to lead a coup against the then government of Liberia in UsefulNotes/TheEighties.

A 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 freed slaves were not particularly friendly towards the native Liberians, in fact they treated them as they had once been when enslaved. Such divisions between the settlers and the natives caused Samuel K. Doe to lead a coup against the then government of Liberia in UsefulNotes/TheEighties.

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A war-torn country in the west coast of Africa, neighbouring Sierra Leone. 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 freed slaves were not particularly friendly towards the native Liberians, in fact they treated them as they had once been when enslaved. Such divisions between the settlers and the natives caused Samuel K. Doe to lead a coup against the then government of Liberia in UsefulNotes/TheEighties.