Liberia’s history is quite unique amongst other African nations. It began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society who believed black people would face better chances for freedom and prosperity in Africa than in the United States. This meant that Liberia didn’t have the struggle from Independence that marks the history of many African nations in the 20th century.

However, when the settlers arrived, the land wasn’t uninhabited, and the relationship between the new arrivals and the indigenous people would come to define the history of this west African nation.

Liberia had enjoyed a period of stability and prosperity under the leadership of William Tubman, who was president from 1944 until 1971. Though an Americo-Liberian, he had the respect of all Liberians.

After Tubman died in 1971, his Vice President, William Tolbert became President.

Though Tolbert enacted some democratic reforms, he never had the same reverence as Tubman and his attempts to balance the Americo-Liberian and the indigenous Liberians were hampered by a fall in the price of rubber in the 1970s, reducing the income in a key sector of the economy.

When Tolbert’s government increased the price of rice, the opposition party, the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) called for a peaceful demonstration in Monrovia. The demonstration turned into race riots with many people being killed.

As a result, Tolbert banned the PAL and had its leadership arrested on charges of treason, which would prove to be a fateful and fatal move.