Republic of Liberia was established as a place to send the freed by the American Colonization Society Afro-Americans under the authority of a United States Congressional charter in 1816.
American Colonization Society bought the land in 1822 from the tribal chieftains. Its price included a box of beads, three pairs of shoes, a box of soap, one barrel of rum, and twelve spoons. 14,000 freed slaves from America and 6,000 from other places had settled in Liberia until 1865.
English is the official language and the capital of Monrovia is named after James Monroe. Ironically, although slavery is forbidden by Constitution, Liberian government was accused of enslaving tribal people to work on domestic and overseas projects. It was confirmed by the League of Nations in 1930 and ceased till 1931.
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