THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIBERIA & THE UNITED STATES: 

THE PATH TO LIBERIA: THE SETTLER COLONY/ MIGRANT DESTINATION

Brief History

Liberia was founded in 1847, as an exercise by the American Colonization Society (ACS). In search of a location where the pseudo-problematic, recently freed slaves could live on the African continent, the ACS designated the land to be called "Liberia" as the new home for freed slaves. 

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The colonization project proceeded, despite the fact that indigenous people inhabited the land. Amidst push back from the indigenous people, the freed slaves named the settlement Liberia, and established the capital of Monrovia after President James Monroe of the United States. 

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Upon establishment of the country, the freed slaves claimed social and political superiority over the indigenous people, similar to the oppression they had left in the United States. The tumultuous socio-political between the Americo-Liberians and the indigenous tribes that inhabited the land lingers to this day. 

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The close relationship between Americo-Liberian leadership and the United States influenced Liberia's social and political emulation of the United States. Liberia's democratic political system is modeled after that of the U.S. Additionally, because of the close relationship, Liberia historically and presently looks to the United States for aid and political ally-ship.