1. Presented by: John D. Willie
History of Liberia
Presented by: John D. Willie

2. Where Liberia is Located?
Liberia is located on the west coast of Africa, and is about the size of the state of Tennessee
Bordering countries are Sierra Leone in the west, Guinea in the north, and the Ivory Coast in the east
The Atlantic ocean covers the south of the Liberian coast
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3. Tribes of Liberia-one nation many people (Pre-ACS)
Early Inhabitants: Many West African tribes believed the early inhabitants of their ancestors were Pygmies, or persons of small size. Stories and memories of them of them still live on in numerous stories and legends. Although no trace of their existence was ever discovered in West Africa, they are well-known to the peoples of this sub region. The Sousou in what is now Guinea call them ‘Doki’, the Ouolofs in Senegal call them ‘Kondrong’, the Malinke ‘Komo Koudoumi’ while in Liberia they are called ‘Jinna’.
Liberia consists of 16 indigenous tribal groups and the Americo-Liberians
The Kumba tribes-Gola, Lorma, Kpelle, Gbandi, Mende, and Mano-6BC. They were named after their king, Kumba.
Bassa, Kru, Grebo, Mamba or, Dey-1500 from present day Ivory Coast. Bassa developed their own script
Vai and Mandingo-Niger region and Western Sudan in They were Muslims and the Vai also developed their own script.
Krahn, Gio, Kissi, and Bella-Congo Basin via Ivory Coast 1700
Americo Liberian, West Indians, and Congo-People-1815
ACS-American Colonization Society

4. Liberian Scripts
Vai Script
Bassa Script
Bassa

5. Historical Timeline of Liberia-Post ACS
Timeline of important historical events of Liberia
Black Colonization
Colony to Republic
Nationhood & Survival
Exploration & Grebo war
Lost of the Gallinas
Lost of the Cavalla lands
Nation of Many people
End of Americo-Liberian Rule
Civil War Officially Ends
1883
1892
2005-Present
ACS sends wave of Americo-Liberians to Africa-First to Sherbro Island, but swampy, unhealthy conditions resulted in high death rate. The British helped move the settlers further north
Lieutenant Robert Stockton, a US naval officer, forcefully (at gun point) negotiated a 36x3 miles land at Cape Mesurado with the Dey and Bassa tribe for $ Taxation forced Liberia’s independence. The capital was Christopolis, later renamed Monrovia
The free slaves from Virginia & Pennsylvania settled in Cape Mount & Mesurado. Folks from Maryland settled in Cape Palmas. Free slaves from Mississippi settled in Sinoe area. In 1847 Liberia declared its independence. Britain was one of the first to recognize Liberia. US President, Abraham Lincoln, officially recognized Liberia in The nation had many financial struggles
Hinterland exploration and the Grebos at war. United States sent naval ship and helped brokered peace
Britain uses force and annexed land to Sierra Leone - Sewa River to the Mano River
France uses force and annexed Liberian land to the Ivory Coast-San Pedro River to the Cavalla River.
Battle for land between the tribes and Americo-Liberians. No political participation was allow by the indigenous people in a one party system.
Military rule and nasty civil war ensued until 1997 when Charles Taylor was elected president. In 2005 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected as Africa’s first female president
Return to Civil Society- corruption dominates the government and election is scheduled for October 10, 2017.
ACS-American Colonization Society

6. Assumed Gallinas & Cavalla Territories
Lost to the French
Lost to the British

7. History of Presidents of Liberia
Liberia has had 23 Presidents and  8 Interim-Presidents
Liberia is the only African country that has had 2 female Head of States-Ruth Perry (Interim) and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-current and Africa’s first female president.
12 Presidents were born in the USA
11 Presidents were born in Liberia
Only two Presidents were of full tribal descent, Samuel K Doe, and Gyude Bryant
At least two, possibly three Presidents were assassinated
Two more Presidents died in office
Four Presidents resigned
Two Presidents were deposed in a coup d’état one of them in a military coup
One President was removed/killed during a civil war
One President served over 27 years-William V.S. Tubman
One president only served two months-Moses Blah.
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8. Custom, Traditions, and Religion
Respect for Elders and parents
In the Bassa tribe, the groom lives and works for the brides family for many years before marriage; the groom then pays $40.00 for his bride. If the wife decides to leave him, her family pays the $40.00 back regardless of how long they were together.
Kola nut is offer on special occasion as a token of respect
Punctuality: Liberians are never on time-add approximately 1-2 hours to the actual time of start of an appointment or event.
Christmas, New year, Flag Day, and July 26 (independence day) are the major holidays.
Liberia is a predominant Christian nation, but has a Muslim population as well-who said Islam and Christianity cannot co-exist?
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9. Government of Liberia
The government of Liberia is similar to that of the United States of America.
Branches of Government are: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
The Executive branch is the president and his/her cabinets.
The Legislature consist of the House of Senate and Representative
The Judicial branch controls the courts and upholds the constitution
Liberia is a Republic
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10. Current Sate of Liberia
It seems sadly that the Liberian government has returned to business as usual as corruption is rampant.
According to FrontPage Africa, it is believed that the salaries of the members of the Liberian congress slightly exceed that of the US members of congress.
There have been some slight improvements in infrastructures, but at a snail pace.
Presidential Election was held on October 10, A run off election between George M. Weah and Vice President, Joseph Boikai is in limo and the country is on the verge of another civil crisis.
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Resources:
US Library of Congress