Part 2/14:
Founded in 1822, Liberia was envisioned as a “mini United States” on the West African coast, primarily populated by freed African Americans, Caribbean immigrants, and repatriated former slaves. This colony was supported by the American Colonization Society (ACS), a group with influential backing from figures like Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and even U.S. presidents James Madison and James Monroe. The U.S. government allocated significant funds to establish Liberia, and ships regularly transported settlers across the Atlantic.