The Library of Congress

Maps of Liberia, 1830-1870

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Go directly to the collection, Maps of Liberia, 1830-1870, in American Memory, or view a Summary of Resources related to the collection.

Maps of Liberia, 1830-1870 traces the history of Liberia through twenty maps of the American Colonization Society, organized in 1817 to resettle free black Americans in West Africa. Through interpretation and analysis of these maps students can study colonization societies, African Americans' search for equality, colonization and nation building, and the effects of the American Civil War and Reconstruction.

1) Colonization Societies

As an alternative to living in America, some whites believed it would be better if free black Americans lived elsewhere. They founded colonization societies to assist in relocating free blacks to Africa. The American Colonization Society, founded in 1817, established a colony in Liberia on the west coast of Africa. By 1867, the society had sent 13,000 emigrants to Liberia. Some slave states formed colonization societies, as well. Several merged with the American Colonization Society in 1838 to form the Commonwealth of Liberia.

The maps in this collection are from the American Colonization Society collection. Students can use Maps of Liberia to learn more about these societies and their goals and techniques for assisting free African Americans to emigrate. Have students search the collection on colonization society to retrieve all 20 maps in this collection. As an introduction to the collection, have students answer these basic questions, referring to the maps.

How did emigrants travel to Liberia? What borders Liberia? What are the names of settlements in Liberia? What land formations - mountains, rivers, etc. - are within Liberia?

North west part of Montserrado County, Liberia, 18--.

To gain more of a perspective about the American Colonization Society, students can browse the exhibit The African-American Mosaic section entitled Colonization and search on American Colonization Society in African-American Perspectives, 1818-1907, From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1824-1909 and America's First Look into the Camera.

2) Black Americans' Search For Equality

Maps of Liberia provides students an opportunity to learn more about African Americans' quest for equality. The movement to colonize Liberia was seen by many as a chance to escape the inequalities institutionalized in the United States by law and social custom. Through its system of slavery and constitutional denial of black Americans' rights as citizens, even free black Americans did not live as equals to others. To learn more about the African-American experience in the United States at this time, have students browse the collections The African-American Experience in Ohio, 1850-1920, African-American Mosaic, African American Odyssey, and First-Person Narratives of the American South, 1860-1920.

Map of Liberia, 1845. This map was prepared for an American Colonization Society book by ACS agent Jehudi Ashmun.

By searching on American Colonization Society in African-American Perspectives, 1818-1907 and From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1824-1909 students can retrieve accounts of how African Americans lived in Liberia. To what extent did living in Liberia provide black Americans freedom or equality? If you had been a free African American in the United States with an opportunity to move to Liberia, would you have? Why or why not? Students can browse Maps of Liberia by Subject Index to look for the places in Africa discussed in the American Colonization Society documents.

3) Colonization and Nation Building

Much of the history of Western civilization can be told as a series of stories of colonization. Colonists influenced the new found lands' economic systems, governments, and culture. In some cases, as in the United States and Liberia, the colonists eventually called for independence in their new homes and formed new nations. Using Maps of Liberia, students can learn more about the process of colonization and nation building.

Maryland in Liberia, 1853.

Students can browse Maps of Liberia by Subject Index using the maps to identify Hardships faced by colonists in terms of climate and hostile neighbors Place names chosen to reflect those places left behind Land acquired by colonists Boundaries set by colonists

By searching on American Colonization Society in From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1824-1909 students can find accounts of nation building in Liberia. Have students read the example below to surmise the Society's perspective on "Americo-Liberians'" self-assertion.

With a government modeled after our own, with rulers chosen, and well chosen too, thus far, by themselves, with a soil to which they are akin, capable of self-support, self-government and self-defense, the people of Liberia are slowly developing a distinct nationality. No longer mere emigrants from the United States experimenting doubtfully, they are Liberians, Americo-Liberians as their phrase is, looking forward to a future of their own. Fast losing our traditions, they aim at becoming historical themselves. Meanwhile, with steady purpose, they pursue quietly and honorably the course of their destiny.

From page 5 of African colonization--its principles and aims. An address delivered by John H. B. Latrobe, president of the American Colonization Society, January 18, 1859.

• What does Latrobe identify as the main characteristics of a "distinct nationality"?
• Can you think of any other characteristics based on the maps or inference and imagination?

4) The American Civil War and Reconstruction

Maps of Liberia can provide students with insight into the experience of black Americans living in the United States after the Civil War. Although many factors contributed to the outbreak of the American Civil War, most remember the war as a struggle over slavery. The Union victory allowed President Lincoln to emancipate slaves and Congress to ratify the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. However, laws could not instantaneously revise culture. African Americans continued to lack equality. As this 1870 map indicates, black Americans continued to emigrate to Liberia after the Civil War, reflecting the lack of opportunities and hope for the future in the United States.

Map of Liberia, 1870.