Liberia and Maryland in Africa by dsfisher on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Following the decline and further Bankruptcy of the American Colonization Society, a referendum was held in the United States colonies to determine if the colony should become an independent nation. All but one of the colonies [The Maryland Colony] voted against independence, though votes were very close.

In 1848, the American Colonization Society were forced to liquidate their remaining assets and sell the various colonies in Africa directly to the American Federal Government. Aside from the core Liberia Colony centered around Monrovia, there were four state run colonies [Louisiana in Africa, Pennsylvania in Africa, Mississippi in Africa and Maryland in Africa] of which the Maryland Colony was given independence as an American protectorate following the Mexican American War.

The United States government now had their first Colony, and could be considered a significant regional power. Following the American Civil War, Liberia's population grew significantly with freed black slaves. Instead of 40 acres and a mule, freed blacks were offered a free ride and land in Liberia.

France attempted to purchase the inner territory of the colony in the late 1880's, but America was wary of French intervention in the America's [Mexico, Brazil and Argentina] and denied the sale, hwoever, they did accept a land trade with the United Kingdom, settling Liberia's eastern border at the Moa River.