The American Colonization Society's West African Enterprise - Colonial Liberia to a Failed State

Abstract

Back to Africa enterprises surfaced periodically in American history in response to societal and governmental unwillingness to absorb equitably that portion or the population with African roots. By late 18^th Century, the slave population and free blacks were or increasing concern to slave holders, social moderates and abolitionists, albeit for distinctly different reasons. The several colonies of free American blacks established on the West African coast in what was to become Liberia were nurtured with material, political and ecclesiastical support from the American Colonization Society and timely assistance from the American Government. Liberia's political and economic leadership derived from American settlers was seemingly destroyed in a 1980 military uprising by tribal soldiers trained by the U.S . Army. The next 25 years were a progression of steps into the abyss and the country is only slowly recovering from being perceived as a failed stale. The paper traces critical political and economic events in this American enterprise.