Liberia is officially the Republic of Liberia, a nation on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Shore to its eastern, and also the Atlantic Ocean to its south and also southwest. It has a population of around 5 million and covers an area of 111,369 square kilometers (43,000 sq mi). English is the main language, however over 20 native languages are spoken, mirroring the country’s ethnic as well as cultural diversity. The country’s funding as well as largest city is Monrovia.

Liberia began in the early 19th century as a project of the American Emigration Culture (ACS), which believed black individuals would face better chances for liberty and also prosperity in Africa than in the United States. Between 1822 and also the outbreak of the American Civil Battle in 1861, more than 15,000 freed and also free-born black individuals who faced social and also lawful oppression in the U.S., along with 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans, relocated to Liberia.

Progressively developing an “Americo-Liberian” identity, the inhabitants lugged their culture and practice with them; the Liberian constitution and flag were modeled after those of the united state, while its resources was named after a/c fan as well as U.S. President James Monroe. Liberia stated self-reliance on July 26, 1847, which the U.S. did not acknowledge till February 5, 1862.

On January 3, 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, an affluent, free-born African American from the U.S. state of Virginia that resolved in Liberia, was chosen Liberia’s first head of state after the people declared freedom.

Liberia was the initial African republic to declare its independence as well as is Africa’s initial and also earliest contemporary republic. It was amongst the few African nations to maintain its sovereignty throughout the Scramble for Africa. During The Second World War, Liberia sustained the USA war initiative versus Germany, and in turn obtained significant American financial investment in infrastructure, which aided the nation’s wealth and also development.

President William Tubman encouraged financial as well as political modifications that enhanced the country’s prosperity as well as worldwide account; Liberia was a starting member of the Organization of Nations, United Nations, as well as the Organisation of African Unity.

The Americo-Liberian settlers did not associate well to the indigenous individuals they experienced, especially those staying in the even more separated inside. Colonial settlements were raided by the Kru as well as Grebo from their inland chiefdoms. Americo-Liberians promoted religious organizations to establish missions and also institutions to inform the indigenous populace.

Americo-Liberians formed right into a tiny elite that held out of proportion political power; indigenous Africans were excluded from bequest citizenship in their own land up until 1904.