The West African nation of Liberia was founded under the auspices of
What are your choices?
These are probably your choices:
A. the American Peace Society. B. Dorothea Dix. C. William Lloyd Garrison. D. the American Colonization Society
What do you think is the answer?
d is the answer
The West African nation of Liberia was founded under the auspices of the American Colonization Society (ACS). The ACS was a U.S.-based organization that was formed in 1816 with the goal of returning freed African-American slaves to Africa. The founding of Liberia was part of a larger movement known as the African colonization movement.
To understand how Liberia was founded, we need to dive into some historical context:
1. American Colonization Society (ACS): The ACS was founded by a group of prominent white Americans, including some slave owners who believed that free blacks would never be fully accepted in the United States. They proposed the idea of returning freed slaves to Africa and establishing a colony where they could live independently.
2. Creating a Colony: In 1821, the ACS obtained a land grant from local tribal leaders in what is now Liberia. The initial group of settlers, made up of both freed African-Americans and some white colonists, arrived in Liberia in 1822. They established a settlement called Christopolis, which later became known as Monrovia, named after James Monroe, then the President of the United States.
3. The Americo-Liberians: Over time, more freed slaves migrated to Liberia, and they formed the core of what became known as the Americo-Liberian elite. They established a government modeled after that of the United States and started to build a society in Liberia. However, this group faced criticism for maintaining some socio-economic disparities and being disconnected from local African cultures.
4. Independence: In 1847, Liberia declared its independence from the ACS and became the first self-proclaimed African republic. This move was largely driven by the Americo-Liberians, who sought to establish a sovereign nation. Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a wealthy Americo-Liberian, became the first president of Liberia.
The founding of Liberia was complex and multifaceted. It was driven by the belief that returning freed slaves to Africa would offer them better opportunities and the desire of the Americo-Liberians to establish a self-governed country. The ACS played a significant role in facilitating the initial settlement and providing support, but it also faced criticism for its motivations and connections to the colonization movement.