History UsefulNotes / Liberia

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.

Liberia was formed by the American Colonisation Society as a means of sending freed slaves back to Africa, and also allegedly planting the 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.

Former Chelsea and Manchester City footballer George Weah became the 25th president in 2018.

Former Chelsea and Manchester City footballer George Weah became the 25t president in 2018.

George Weah became the 25t president in 2018.

George Weah became president in 2018, in the first peaceful democratic handover of power since the days of Americo-Liberian rule.

Liberia was formed by the American Colonisation Society as a means of sending freed slaves back to Africa, and also planting the 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 majority native population would not be involved politically in the new republic. Despite the high mortality rate there was some success in agriculture and development in the coastal towns, but Liberia's commodity paced resource economy could not keep pace with the rapid forces of economic development and while free came to be surrounded and politically coaxed by European empires.

A notable event was when, 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. This proved wildly unpopular. 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.

The Republican Party faded from relevance, eventually dissolving in 1899, leaving Liberia a one-party state under the True Whigs. Decades of struggle had made the settlers culturally different from Americans, as well as Africans, and they faced hostility from colonial powers such as France. 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 also debate about how to treat the natives. There were no easy solutions to the backward economy, staggering levels of debt, and the ever-present tensions that plagued the Liberian state.

Liberia was formed by the American Colonisation Society as a means of sending freed slaves back to Africa, and also planting the planting the seed to spread Christianity and 'civilize' the continent. It also served a purpose as a duals means of removing freed blacks from the continent. 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.

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.

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 considered outsiders by those they encountered. The settler's desire to end the slave trade and convert the natives to Christianity clashed with the desires of local chieftains who followed tribal religions and for whom trading slaves was a major source of income.

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 [[SelfMadeMan 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.

Despite some early success in agriculture and some development in the coastal towns, this was rapidly outpaced by changes in the global economy. Seeking to run up a sovereign debt in an attempt to boost economic output, 5th President of Liberia Edward James Roye, acquired an eye-watering loan of $500,000 from London financiers. This proved wildly unpopular. 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.

Following Tubman's death, he was succeeded by Vice President William Tolbert, wh 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.

1931 saw the election of Edwin Barclay, who believed in co-operation with the US and made steps towards economic liberalization. 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 ushered in a period of strong economic growth, spurred by foreign investment, particularly from the US. As a fervent anti-communist, he took the US side in [[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. 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 beacon of stability. It was so stable in fact, that for awhile it was where the elites of the continent could safely take their holidays away from the drama of decolonisation.

1931 saw the election of Edwin Barclay, who believed in co-operation with the US and made steps towards economic liberalization. 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 ushered in a period of strong economic growth, spurred by foreign investment, particularly from the US. As a fervent anti-communist, he took the US side in [[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. 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.

Tubman was successfully able to balance the demands of the settler elite with the native majority by creating a powerful network of patronage through the country, to the extent that he would personally visit local chiefdoms to resolve disputes himself. Political reforms were also implemented, with universal suffrage being introduced in the '50s and more native-born Liberians educated than ever before. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism, with [[SecretPolice secret police]] and repression of rival political parties and trade unions. It also remained highly nepotistic, with top opportunities remaining the domain of those descended from the original settlers. He became more paranoid and tyrannical after a gunman failed to assassinate him in 1954 (whether it was a genuine assassination attempt or an unfortunate misunderstanding is subject to debate). However, his rule ended suddenly in 1971 when he died in London from complications following surgery.

* AwesomeButImpractical: The first houses that the early settlers built were grand houses in the style of antebellum plantation homes, and towns were built in the style of the Deep South. In the long-term these proved difficult to maintain in the harsh tropical climate.

This led to a a long and vicious civil war sparking off war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. How vicious, you ask? Well, Samuel K. Doe was [[FullCircleRevolution eventually tortured to death by a rival]] named Prince Y. Johnson. Said torture was filmed, and allegedly showed Prince sipping a Budweiser while Doe was getting his ear hacked off. The film made the rounds in various African marketplaces. [[MeetTheNewBoss Charles Taylor]] then took things over and screwed things up in neighboring countries (funding rebels, etc.) until he was forced to leave by international pressure, spearheaded by former US president UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president afterwards. Things have been relatively peaceful there since then... but unfortunately, in 2014, [[FromBadToWorse Ebola]] struck.

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 [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar join the Non-Aligned Movement]]. Tolbert 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.

This led to a a long and vicious civil war sparking off war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. How vicious, you ask? Well, Samuel K. Doe was eventually tortured to death by a rival named Prince Y. Johnson. Said torture was filmed, and allegedly showed Prince sipping a Budweiser while Doe was getting his ear hacked off. The film made the rounds in various African marketplaces. [[MeetTheNewBoss Charles Taylor]] then took things over and screwed things up in neighboring countries (funding rebels, etc.) until he was forced to leave by international pressure, spearheaded by former US president UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president afterwards. Things have been relatively peaceful there since then... but unfortunately, in 2014, [[FromBadToWorse Ebola]] struck.

UsefulNotes/TheEighties began with Army Sergeant [[TheGeneralissimo 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]] 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 enrich himself and members of his native Krahn tribe at the expense of the rest.

This led to a a long and vicious civil war sparking off war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. How vicious, you ask? Well, Samuel K. Doe was eventually tortured to death by a rival named Prince Y. Johnson. Said torture was filmed, and allegedly showed Prince sipping a Budweiser while Doe was getting his ear hacked off. The film made the rounds in various African marketplaces. Charles Taylor then took things over and screwed things up in neighboring countries (funding rebels, etc.) until he was forced to leave by international pressure, spearheaded by former US president UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president afterwards. Things have been relatively peaceful there since then... but unfortunately, in 2014, [[FromBadToWorse Ebola]] struck.

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]] 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. 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.

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]] after [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner series 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. 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.

1931 saw the election of Edwin Barclay, who believed in co-operation with the US and made steps towards economic co-operation. 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 ushered in a period of strong economic growth, spurred by foreign investment, particularly from the US. As a fervent anti-communist, he took the US side in [[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. 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.

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 ushered in a period of strong economic growth, spurred by foreign investment, particularly from the US. As a fervent anti-communist, he took the US side in [[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. 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.

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. In the eyes of the international community, 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.

* SelfMadeMan: Many of the early settlers who rose to prominence were either entrepreneurs in the USA or became wealthy in the "new" country. The first (and 7th) President Joseph Jenkins Roberts was one of these.

* 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 exploitation of the countries raw materials.

Tubman was successfully able to balance the demands of the settler elite with the native majority by creating a powerful network of patronage through the country, to the extent that he would personally visit local chiefdoms to resolve disputes himself. Political reforms were also implemented, with universal suffrage being introduced in the '50s and more native-born Liberians educated than ever before. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism with repression of rival political parties and trade unions and [[SecretPolice secret police]]. It also remained highly nepotistic, with top opportunities remaining the domain of those descended from the original settlers. He became more paranoid and tyrannical after a gunman failed to assassinate him in 1954 (whether it was a genuine assassination attempt or an unfortunate misunderstanding is subject to debate). However, his rule ended suddenly in 1971 when he died in London from complications following surgery.

Tubman was successfully able to balance the demands of the settler elite with the native majority by creating a powerful network of patronage through the country, to the extent that he would personally visit local chiefdoms to resolve disputes himself. Political reforms were also implemented, with universal suffrage being introduced in the '50s and more native-born Liberians educated than ever before. Nevertheless, Tubman's rule was marked by increasing authoritarianism with repression of rival political parties and trade unions. It also remained highly nepotistic, with top opportunities remaining the domain of those descended from the original settlers. He became more paranoid and tyrannical after a gunman failed to assassinate him in 1954 (whether it was a genuine assassination attempt or an unfortunate misunderstanding is subject to debate). However, his rule ended suddenly in 1971 when he died in London from complications following surgery.

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 [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar 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 [[PublicExecution executing most of the cabinet on the beach in front of a baying mob]]. 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. 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.

** During the post-war boom period, President Tubman shelled out a vast sum for a Presidential Yacht.