A brief Historical Background

Liberia is the oldest independent nation in Africa which origin can be traced as far back as the early 1800s. It came into existence when free negro slaves from America decided to repatriate to the land of their ancestral birth (Africa) through the efforts of American Colonization Society (ACS) and with the help of the US government.

The ACS was a group which comprise of former slave owners and slave abolitionists that were concerned about the growing number of free slaves roaming about in New England and as slave revolts were very common in those days. The first group of free slaves arrived in Liberia in 1816. These free slaves and their descendents were called the "Americo Liberians" or mulattoes because they were fair in complexion than the indigenous tribes they meet in Liberia. Upon reaching the shores of Liberia, the free slaves formed a government and adopted a constitution similar to the United States.

For more information about Liberia, please visit the following websites.

CIA World Fact Book about Liberia

BBC Historical Timeline on Liberia