The American Colonization Movement and the Resettlement of African Americans to Liberia (1815-1834)

By 1815, many free blacks became convinced that it was not possible for blacks and whites to live together in the United States. These blacks, with the backing of some whites, established the American Colonization Society and began preparations to leave the United States and return to Africa. Paul Cuffe, a wealthy black, helped to fund the first group of blacks who went back to Africa during this period. By the 1820s hundreds of blacks were pooling their money to purchase ships to carry as many blacks as desired to go back to Africa. Most of those who left from 1815 to 1834 would end up in the West African nation today known as Liberia. Many of the early emigrants stopped in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and later were resettled in Monrovia, Liberia.

 In 1822, with the help of President James Mon­ roe, Liberia became the second independent African Republic founded and governed by blacks from the United States, the first being Sierra Leone. The settlers of Liberia, like those of Sierra Leone, worked to create a community similar to the one they had left behind in the United States. The settlers proceeded to Christianize and educate as many of the native Africans as possible while dismissing their native religions and languages. As a result of this, many native Africans were alienated by American blacks and resentful of their presence. Although some blacks relocated to Liberia, most did not want to leave America and return to an Africa they had never known. Also, the expense of relocating large numbers of free blacks prevented the program from being successful.