Between Death and Democracy: High Mortality and Political Change in Colonial Liberia

Abstract

The Republic of Liberia represents one of the most unique developments in world history. Liberian history is fascinating, connecting to significant political, social, and cultural changes in the United States of America, the British Empire, and within West African societies. Strikingly, the African Americans who settled and shaped Liberia suffered extraordinary losses in their search for personal and racial freedom. This has been described as one of the worst mortality experiences in modern history. Yet, few Americans are familiar with this part of history. A much broader understanding, though still uncommon among the general public, has been achieved on the development of an elitist, patriarchal government structure in the Republic of Liberia. The link between the terrible mortality of Liberian colonization and this socio-political evolution has not been clearly delineated in much scholarship. Such clarification is needed, especially as Liberians are often disparaged by an academic and political conversation that routinely characterizes Liberian settlers as deeply flawed individuals who chose a crooked path toward freedom. Instead, the oppressive and brutal reality of settling freed enslaved people across the Atlantic pushed a beleaguered and ill population into a reliant position with the colonial agency and early government. This encouraged a patriarchal stratification of society. An evaluation of primary sources, namely the American Colonization Society and Maryland State Colonization Society archives, provides evidence for this relationship. Several scholarly secondary works on Liberian colonization offer valuable insights as well.

Start Time

16-4-2025 11:00 AM

End Time

16-4-2025 12:00 PM

Room Number

304

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Presentation Subtype

Grad/Non-comp Orals

Presentation Category

Art and Humanities

Faculty Mentor

Brian Maxson

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Apr 16th, 11:00 AM Apr 16th, 12:00 PM

Between Death and Democracy: High Mortality and Political Change in Colonial Liberia

304

The Republic of Liberia represents one of the most unique developments in world history. Liberian history is fascinating, connecting to significant political, social, and cultural changes in the United States of America, the British Empire, and within West African societies. Strikingly, the African Americans who settled and shaped Liberia suffered extraordinary losses in their search for personal and racial freedom. This has been described as one of the worst mortality experiences in modern history. Yet, few Americans are familiar with this part of history. A much broader understanding, though still uncommon among the general public, has been achieved on the development of an elitist, patriarchal government structure in the Republic of Liberia. The link between the terrible mortality of Liberian colonization and this socio-political evolution has not been clearly delineated in much scholarship. Such clarification is needed, especially as Liberians are often disparaged by an academic and political conversation that routinely characterizes Liberian settlers as deeply flawed individuals who chose a crooked path toward freedom. Instead, the oppressive and brutal reality of settling freed enslaved people across the Atlantic pushed a beleaguered and ill population into a reliant position with the colonial agency and early government. This encouraged a patriarchal stratification of society. An evaluation of primary sources, namely the American Colonization Society and Maryland State Colonization Society archives, provides evidence for this relationship. Several scholarly secondary works on Liberian colonization offer valuable insights as well.