hey guys! remember me!
sorry, haven't been posting cuz my comp @ home has crashed, and i still haven't gotten it fixed. i'm @ school rite now, and it's the best i can do, see y'all around later! bye for now!
btw, there were some new pix of celina @ indiafm in the party and features archives, so go check em out. she was @ the temptations 2004 press meet.
i'll try postin em up, w/sum more stuff tomorrow. bye for now.
1847 Liberia becomes Africa’s first independent republic. This causes aid to stop from colonization of the society and Liberia begins to face economic problems. (Economic, 7)
1926 Firestone establishes a rubber plantation in Monrovia (the capital of Liberia). This was the largest rubber plantation in the world and was also the biggest employer for 45 years, leading the way for other companies to be established. (Economic, 0)
1930 President Edwin Barclay formed a new administration. He took power after the former president resigned after allegedly using slaves for forced labor. (Political, 1)
1940's Iron ore is discovered in the mountainous area that forms the northern border with Guinea. The founding of iron ore helps improve the economy, as it becomes an important natural resource to the land. (Economic, 0)
1942 US and Liberia sign a defense agreement and Liberia becomes a prominent nation to the world. Because of Japanese invasion and occupation of SE Asia, the West was denied it’s source of rubber, which was needed for the war. As a result, the US invested in development of Liberia’s transportation infrastructure. They built roads, an international airport, and a deepwater harbor in Monrovia. (Economic, 0)
1944 Liberia signs the UN declaration, making it a fully independent nation with close ties to the US. US currency replaced British currency. (Political, 0)
1944-1971 William Tubman is elected as president. He began a policy of national unification and economic development through foreign investment. (Economic, 0)
1971 Tubman dies and VP William Tolbert becomes the new president. He faces economic problems from fall in world prices of rubber and iron ore. (Economic, 7)
1980 Government increases the price of rice and anti-government demonstrations take place and
leaders of the opposition party were imprisoned when they call a general strike. (Economic, 2) (Violence, 1) (Political, 6)
1980 Tolbert is killed in an army coup. Stability is shattered among Liberia. (Violence, 8)
1980 New leader Samuel Doe takes power as head of the new People’s Redemption Council.He suspended the constitution and assumed full legislative and executive powers. (Political, 7)
1980 More than a dozen officials of the previous regime are publicly executed. Part of the reason for the violent overthrow of Tolbert’s government was that his government was dominated by Americo-Liberians (elite class; descendants of former slaves), while the majority of Liberia belonged to the indigeneous tribes. (Violence, 9)
1985 Elections were held, but most were sure it was a rigged election to assure Doe as president.
He formally took over in 1986. Under his leadership, inflation rose and exports decreased. Close ties to the US were deteriorating because of government corruption and lack of human rights. (Economic, 9)
1986 A new constitution is drawn up. But it is not very different from the preceding one, and controversy over Doe’s election ruins it’s legitimacy. (Political, 1)
1989 A rebel army, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, based in Sierra Leone and led by Charles Taylor, crosses into Liberia and began an uprising against the government. This caused violence and riots to break out. (Political, 6) (Violence, 10)
1989 Struggle follows between ethnic factions. Doe was supported by the Krahn and Mandingo, while Taylor was supported by the Gio and Mano. (Political, 10) (Violence, 11)
1990 The Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) organizes a peacekeeping force. But it fails to stop the fighting, even though some order is restored. (Violence, 14)
1990 Civil War breaks out as the NPFL battles ECOMOG, the Liberian army, their splinter group
the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), and the United Liberation Movement
of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), composed of former allies of Doe. This causes the collapse of the criminal law system as power passed to the hands of rival groups who established their own summary forms of justice. (Political, 12)
September 1990 Doe is captured and executed by a group led by another rebel leader. This causes more instability as the public leader is killed and thrown out of power. (Violence, 8)
October 1991 ECOWAS and the NPFL agreed to disarm and establish an Interim Government of
National Unity (IGNU). This was planned to settle down the rioting and other violent events. (Political, 14)
1992 The NPFL began to disarm in early 1992, but clashed with ECOMOG forces, and in August
was attacked by ULIMO from Sierra Leone. In September the NPFL launched an all-out assault
on ECOMOG forces in Monrovia, recruiting boys as young as eight to fight, and executing
civilians who refused to join. This shut down all transportation in or out of the capital for a while and killed thousands of civilians in the crossfire. (Violence, 15)
July 1993 The leaders of IGNU, NPFL, and ULIMO-K drew up a plan for a Liberian National
Transitional Government, led by a five-member Council of State consisting of one NPFL leader,
one ULIMO-K member, one IGNU representative, and two other civilians. A new provisional government is put into place in hope for a more stable future. (Political, 15)
1993 The provisional government does not follow the terms of the treaty. Peace becomes
even harder with a new group, the Liberian Peace Council. (Political, 1)
1995 A peace treaty is signed to put the government in the hands of a new six-member Council of State under a chairperson. Disarming began once again, and refugees start coming back to their homeland. (Political, 0)
1996 Civil War ends with the signing of the Abuja Accord. Fighters gave up weapons and no longer carried arms in order to prevent further fighting between rival groups. (Violence, 14)
July 19, 1997 An election is held, and the vote is judged fair by international observers, as Charles
Taylor is elected president. The Council of State dissolves with this election. (Political, 0)
2001 UN imposes economic sanctions on Liberia for aiding warfare in Sierra Leone. Months of fighting and international pressure pursue until Taylor resigns. (Economic, 9) (Violence, 14)
August 11, 2003 Taylor resigns and goes into exile to Nigeria because of threatening raids from his
involvement in promoting warfare in Sierra Leone. (Political, 14)
October 14, 2003 Gyude Bryant takes over leadership after he was chosen to lead a transitional government at the all-party peace talks. He was put into power for two years in order to prepare Liberia for a national election and to disarm any remaining groups. (Political, 15)
October 11, 2005 The 2005 election brings victory to leading contender Winston Tubman. (Political, 0)
2010 Liberia is being led towards a recovery step-by-step. In the process, the economy is steadily rising with the US as an ally, and politically things are becoming steadier and balanced as democracy flourishes. (Economic, 0) (Political, 0) (Violence, 1)
2010 Liberia is being led towards a recovery step-by-step. In the process, the economy is steadily rising with the US as an ally, and politically things are becoming steadier and balanced as democracy flourishes.
******************************************************
Almanac
1. Park, Ken. The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2005. New York: World Almanac, 2004.
This source provided me an overview of the situation in Liberia as well as sufficient history to be included in my timeline.
Books
1. Ellis, Stephen. The Mask of Anarchy: The Destruction of Liberia and the Religious Dimension of an African Civil War. New York: New York University Press, 2001.
This source provided me information on how Liberia landed up in the situation it is in.
2. Heritage, Andrew. Financial Times: World Desk Reference. New York: Darling Kindersley Publishing.
This book helped in understanding the economic aspect of Liberia.
3. Kulah, Arthur. Liberia Will Rise Again: Reflections on the Liberian Civil Crisis. Abingdon Press, 1999.
This helped in my predictions of what will occur in the future of Liberia.
4. Pham, John-Peter. Liberia: Portrait of a Failed State. New York: Reed Press, 2004.
This book helped explain why Liberia is in the position it is currently in.
5. World Politics Annual Edition Basic Library Reference. Connecticut: Dushkin Publishing Group, 1989.
This book helped understand the leadership positions and types of government Liberia had in the past.
Internet
1. “Liberia.” MSN Encarta. 26 March 05. <http://www.encarta.com>
This internet source provided me with maps for the presentation, as well as history.
2. “Liberia in Pix.” Time. 30 Mar 05. <http://www.time.com/time>
This source provided me with pictures of leaders and current happenings in Liberia.
Magazines
1. Faris, Stephan. “Liberia's Taylor: 'I'll Go When the Peacekeepers Come’.” Time 10 Jul 2003. <http://www.time.com/time>
This magazine article explained the resignation of Charles Taylor as president.
2. Faris, Stephan. “Liberia: The US Comes In.” Time. 15 Aug 2003. <http://www.time.com/time>
This article provided an overview of how the US has aided Liberia in gaining a foothold on democracy.
3. Faris, Stephan. “Charles Taylor Leaves Liberia.” Time. 11 Aug 2003. <http://www.time.com/time>
This article explained the reasons as to why Charles Taylor resigned and the aftermath.
4. “Liberia.” Rand McNally World Facts and Maps 1995, 64-65.
This magazine provided interesting facts that were included in my timeline.
5. Michaels, Marguerite. “Liberia: In the Land of Blood and Tears.” Time. <http://www.time.com/time>
This magazine showed Liberia from the perspective of a foreigner during battling times.
Newspapers
1. Abel, David. “Liberia’s Elections.” The Boston Globe. 11 Mar 2005. <http://www.boston.com/globe>
This source was helpful in understanding the future election of Liberia.
2. “From Chaos, Order.” The Economist. 5 Mar 2005. <http://www.findarticles.com>
This article shows how Liberia could now step up and gain a foothold.
3. Peel, Michael. The Financial Times. 19 Jul 2004. <http://www.findarticles.com>
This explained the economic aspects of Liberia in recent times.
4. Powers, William. International Herald Tribune. 11 Jan 2005. <http://www.findarticles.com>
This article provided an overview of Liberia’s elections.
5. Thompson, Sametta. “Tubman Arrives.” New York Amsterdam News. 10 March 2005. <http://www.findarticles.com>
This article shows how Tubman may have a lead in this year’s elections.