Jeanette Holmes

Liberia

“Land of the Free”

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Americo-LiberiansAmerico-Liberians

In 1816 the American Colonization Society (ACS) In 1816 the American Colonization Society (ACS) was form to free slaves from the United States and was form to free slaves from the United States and bring them to Liberia. For many years the ACS bring them to Liberia. For many years the ACS govern Liberia providing them with basic needs; govern Liberia providing them with basic needs; settlers also came in contact with diseases like settlers also came in contact with diseases like yellow fever, and malaria.yellow fever, and malaria.

In 1824 the land was then labeled as Monrovia after In 1824 the land was then labeled as Monrovia after the American President James Monroe. 40 years had the American President James Monroe. 40 years had passed and 19,000 African American settled in passed and 19,000 African American settled in Liberia, 5,000 from slave ships and west Indian Liberia, 5,000 from slave ships and west Indian immigrants had settled in Liberia. Liberians built immigrants had settled in Liberia. Liberians built several schools and a university.several schools and a university.

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Civil War

The ACS discontinued their funds leaving the Liberians more than they can handle. It left them no choice but to borrow from the United States by leasing them land for businesses such as firestone. In 1944 Tubman was Liberia new President. He perpetrated his country by allowing international investments. Tubman died in 1971 leaving Liberia with a big mess to clean up themselves. Doe announced himself as the new president. But was killed in 1990 by a rebel group associated with Charles Taylor. Charles rebel group vs. the Liberia army brought upon the civil war. In 1997 Charles Taylor won the election for president in Liberia. During the war 200,000 people were killed and a little over 700,000 were refuges.

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Education• Free education is available for students between the

ages of 6-16. Most of the students can only afford to attend public or government schools. Most schools are in Monrovia because of the good roads. Some schooling take place in come churches. Between the ages of 6-18 about half of all students are in school, and just about all schools are in desperate need of teachers.

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Holidays/FestivalsHolidays/Festivals

January 1 January 1 New years DayNew years DayFebruary 11February 11 Armed Force dayArmed Force dayMarch 8March 8 Declaration DayDeclaration DayMarch 15March 15 J.J. Robert’s BirthdayJ.J. Robert’s BirthdayMay 14May 14 National Unification DayNational Unification DayMay 25May 25 Africa DayAfrica DayJuly 26July 26 Independence DayIndependence DayAugust 24August 24 Nation Flag dayNation Flag dayNevember 1Nevember 1 All Saints DayAll Saints DayNovember 29November 29 W.V.S Truman's birthdayW.V.S Truman's birthdayDecember 25December 25 ChristmasChristmas

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History of the FlagHistory of the Flag

The white star represents the The white star represents the freedom the ex-slaves were freedom the ex-slaves were given and the blue square given and the blue square represents the African represents the African mainland mainland

The 11 stripes symbolize the The 11 stripes symbolize the 11 signatories of the 11 signatories of the Liberian declaration of Liberian declaration of independenceindependence

The red and white colors The red and white colors symbolize courage and symbolize courage and moral excellence. moral excellence.

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Liberian Money

In 2001 Liberia Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated $3.6 billion dollars.

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CultureCulture

Over 600,000 Liberian were forced to Over 600,000 Liberian were forced to leave their home during the war. Since leave their home during the war. Since then Liberian have grown in different then Liberian have grown in different counties and also have different counties and also have different cultures. cultures.

Their songs, dances, clothing and food Their songs, dances, clothing and food are all different. They are divided into are all different. They are divided into three major groups the indigenous three major groups the indigenous people, the Americo- Liberians which people, the Americo- Liberians which make up 5% of the population, and make up 5% of the population, and Africans.Africans.

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The Culture Continues

English is their official language but they also communicate in their own language. Mask making is popular for the indigenous groups, also sports and soccer.

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EconomyEconomy

More than two-thirds of the economy responsibility is More than two-thirds of the economy responsibility is farming. Here are some of their crops:farming. Here are some of their crops:

Sweet PotatoesSweet Potatoes Palm trees (for palm oil)Palm trees (for palm oil) BananasBananas Sugar canesSugar canes

They are very independent when it comes to raw material. They are very independent when it comes to raw material. Rubber was their first export crop in 1904. Mainly their most Rubber was their first export crop in 1904. Mainly their most important exports are food, petroleum products, machinery important exports are food, petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment. The civil war was a caused major and transport equipment. The civil war was a caused major problems in Liberia such as road damage which caused the problems in Liberia such as road damage which caused the country railroads to closecountry railroads to close

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GovernmentGovernment

Liberia consisted of three branches of government as Liberia consisted of three branches of government as the United States. the United States.

The Legislative that has two chambers, the Senate The Legislative that has two chambers, the Senate and House of Representative. In which every six and House of Representative. In which every six years 26 senators and 64 representatives are elected.years 26 senators and 64 representatives are elected.

The Executive branch in which involves the The Executive branch in which involves the president, he also serves a six-year termpresident, he also serves a six-year term. .

And the Judicial Branch governed by the And the Judicial Branch governed by the supreme court with 5 chief justice selected by supreme court with 5 chief justice selected by the president.the president.

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Health

Hospitals are poorly equipped with the essential needs in Liberia. In some areas, medicine is low and some don’t even have medicine. In Liberia Anthropodorne is very popular and is a major problem as well as HIV.

Food-Bourne is very common and seems to never decease over time. Diarrhea and upper respiratory diseases are common.