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A H I S T O R Y O F
L I B E R I A
Liberia was an experiment by a group of notable Americans
designed in the early 1800’s (well before the civil war) to return freed
Northern slaves to the west coast of Africa. The name Liberia
is a form of the word Liberty. Monrovia,
the capital city of Liberia,
is named after U.S.
president James Monroe.
The Liberian flag is an exact duplicate of the
flag of the United States
save for a single star where we have fifty.
The government is essentially a duplication of the United States politically,
constitutionally and economically.
Liberia is slightly larger than the state of Tennessee and has an
estimated population of approximately 3 million people. It is composed of 15 counties (much like
our states) each containing a capitol city.
The people of Liberia are literate to a high
degree but the average life span as of 2004 was only 48 years. Much of this is due to the deaths caused by
the recent years of civil war and unrest as well as the lack of available
medical care in the outlying areas of the country.
Liberia has been embroiled in civil unrest and war since
1980 when President William R. Tolbert was assassinated by an indigenous
Liberian named Samuel K. Doe. Doe was
subsequently over thrown by Charles Taylor in 1989 and later killed. The assumption of power by Taylor initiated a six
year war. Taylor was well known to be totally corrupt
with little concern for his people.
Hostilities by rebel forces continued as late as 2003 with the United States
embassy coming under attach as late as July 2003. A United Nations brokered cease fire
occurred in late 2003. The U.N.
peacekeeping forces are only now moving into many of the outlying counties.
For well over ten years the people of Liberia have been killed in large quantities
with many fleeing into Monrovia
seeking a safe refuge that did not exist.
Hundreds of thousands of those fortunate enough to have lived have
found themselves in displaced or refugee camps. Food and medical attention both remain
scarce. Only within the past year has
a form of stability returned to the country.
The vast majority of the population is unemployed with most people
struggling simply to find enough to eat for the day.
Yet the Liberian people are proud of their country
and long for the day it will return to a position of peace and
prosperity. When you speak with the
average Liberian, they quickly tell you that they long to be like America.
Key
dates in the 1800’s include 1820 when the first ship of colonist sail for
West Africa, 1847 when Liberia
becomes the first republic in West Africa and 1862 when the United States recognizes Liberia as an independent
country. In 1926 Firestone opens a
rubber plantation destined to become the largest producer of latex in the
world. 1980 and 1989 see Doe and Taylor, respectively;
assume power through the overthrow of the government. 2003 sees rebel forces enter Monrovia, President
Taylor step down and leave the country and Charles Bryant, a businessman,
appointed as head of the interim government.
During 2004 the United
Nations began to solidify control over the rebel forces moving them out of Monrovia and continuing
into the countryside. It is expected
that several countries will provide some level of assistance to Liberia
over the next few years. The United
Nations has stated that Liberia
will require foreign aid well in excess of $100 million per year until its
infrastructure can be rebuilt and its economic viability restored. The U.N. and U.S. are currently providing
assistance in the areas of peacekeeping, education, health care and food
programs.
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