Liberia in the 19th Century: From American Colony to African Republic

Between 1822 and 1847, some 4,500 American ex-slaves and free-born Blacks, unwanted and ill-treated in the country of their birth, sailed to West Africa to settle in an unknown territory with an unhealthy, harsh tropical climate. Their uncertain colonisation venture was organised and funded by private white American organisations, with significant military, financial, and political support from the US government. In 1847, Black American settlers proclaimed the first independent African republic.

But the settlers were not settling in an empty land. This led to many conflicts with the indigenous population, who were excluded from the new republic. There were also many conflicts with slave traders - who were still active in the area - sometimes in collaboration with local population groups. The Scramble for Africa also brought numerous conflicts with hungry European colonial powers. This situation was further exacerbated by internal divisions within the settler group. The financial and economic costs of these conflicts and threats were high. By the turn of the century, Liberia was war-weary and nearly bankrupt. The country had not yet begun to develop. On the threshold of the 20th century, the survival of Liberia’s political independence seemed uncertain.  

 

While researching the history of Liberia’s origins, the colonial period (1822–1847), and the republican period (1847–1900), author Fred van der Kraaij made a remarkable discovery. In this book, he reveals that the name Liberia already existed in 1822, and does not date from 1824, as is the official version.