1200 - Spanish explorers arrive in pre-Liberia and initiate a legacy of
European
expansionism on the West African coast.
Early 1500s - Vai and other members of the Kwa
and Mande speaking groups (two
major ethnolinguistic groups) leave the political and social
unrest of
the Sudanic empire and seek haven on the West African coast.
1808 - U.S. Congress adopts “Acts of Congress Prohibiting Slave Trade.”
The act outlawed the importation of new slaves
into the United States, effectively ending transatlantic slave trade. Slavery within the US continued until the end
of the American Civil War with the adoption of the 13th amendment.
1820 - The first American Colonization Society (ACS) ship sails for
Africa, bringing freed American slaves for “resettlement” in their
“homeland.” ACS was founded 1816 and
continued moving back and forth between the US and Africa until it was
dissolved in 1964. Over the course of
its history, ACS brought thousands of African-Americans to Africa.
1824 – ACS dubs the re-settlement zone on the West African coast
“Liberia” (derived from “Liberty”). They
choose a capital city, Monrovia, named for President Monroe.
1841 - Due to the death of white ACS agents, black settlers gain control
of
1847 - Delegates (primarily the coastal elite who have ties to ACS power
structures)
convene for
the First Constitutional Convention. Liberians elect Joseph J. Roberts as
their first
President.
1884 - Hilary R.W. Johnson becomes the first Liberia-born president.
1944 - William V.S. Tubman, a young, popular Liberian senator, is elected
President. He is a proponent of the True
Whig Party of Liberia (modeled after the Whig Party of the United States, which
supported modernization and economic protectionism). The True Whigs were essentially the only
political party in Liberia until 1980.
1945 - A constitutional amendment extends suffrage to women.
1951 - Tubman works with legislature to make presidential terms
limitless.
1955 – Disgruntled members of the Whig Party, frustrated by Tubman’s
fiercely aristocratic policies, attempt to assassinate the President.
1971 - Tubman dies during his seventh presidential term; William Tolbert,
a six-time Vice
President,
assumes the presidency.
1975 - ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States) is formed.
1980 - On April 12, 17 non-commissioned officers in the Armed Forces of
Liberia (AFL) stage a military coup, assassinating Tolbert and creating a
“revolutionary” military government, the People’s Redemption Council (PRC),
with Samuel K. Doe as head of state.
1980 - The beginning of The Doe Era. Foreign investors withdraw 90% of
their investments from the Liberian economy in response to Doe’s violent
coup. Government wages inflate and
national debt increases.
1984 - Under the banner of the newly-formed National Democratic Party of
Liberia (NDPL), Doe is elected president of the Second Republic of Liberia with
50.9% of the popular vote.
1985 – Samuel K. Doe’ government begins a campaign of violence against Gio/Mande tribes. Ethnic tensions rise.
1987-8 - After providing Doe with more than $20 million in military
assistance, the United
States withdraws its aid from Liberia, causing the economy to falter.
becomes the
focus of the international human rights community.
1989 - Charles Taylor and the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)
begin their
insurgency
against Doe and attack government posts in
of the Great
War (First Liberian Civil War).
1990 - August, various women’s organizations begin their relief efforts. On September 9, the NPFL capture and kill
Doe. Four different warlords, Taylor,Johnson,
David Nimby, and Harry Montim
all make Presidential claims. Conflict
between the warlords wreaks havoc on Liberia and its civilians. In November, ECOWAS creates a transitional
government, the Interim Government for National Unity and attempts to contain
the violence from afar. Taylor continues
his resistance.
1994 - February 4, the Liberian Women’s Initiative (LWI) holds their
first meeting at City Hall in Monrovia.
1997 - As a member of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles Taylor
wins the presidential election (70%). Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
comes in second with 9% of the vote. The NPP wins 21 of 26 House Seats and 49
of 64 House seats. First Liberian Civil
War comes to a close.
1999 – May: Liberian government
becomes aware of a large military movement coming from Sierra Leone, whose
rebel soldiers eventually seize most of Lofa County. They call themselves Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). Taylor
restructures the military and has approximately 21,000 troops, at least 4,000
of whom are children under the age of 15.
Fighting breaks out, and the Second Civil War begins.
2001 - May 5, thousands of women march to the UN office in Monrovia and
demand international intervention in the conflict.
2002 - February 5, Charles Taylor declares a State of
2003 - April, more than 80% of Liberia is under LURD control. A second armed group, Movement for Democracy
in Liberia (MODEL) appears to oppose Taylor’s forces. Peace talks between the three groups are
attempted, and fail. The US intervenes
with troops. In August, Taylor resigns
as president and flees to Nigeria. LURD,
MODEL, and the Liberian government enter a comprehensive peace agreement.
2005 - October 11, 13 nominees compete for the Liberian presidency. The
race is too close to call, so the transitional government organizes a run-off
among the top two contenders, George Weah (a Kru, international football player, and UN Goodwill ambassador)
and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (who had been imprisoned
twice during the Doe administration) and whose career included tenures at CitiBank, World Bank, and the UN Development Programme administration. On November 8, Johnson-Sirleaf
received a decisive victory.
2006 - March 29, Charles Taylor is charged with crimes against humanity,
violating the
Geneva Conventions and "other serious violations of
international humanitarian
law." On
June 6, he is extradited and sent to the International Criminal Court in The Hague,
The Netherlands to face trial.
2008 - After several delays (including many witnesses going into hiding),
the International
Criminal Court proceeds with Taylor’s trial.
2009- February: Prosecution closes its case against Charles Taylor. In July, The defense opens
their case with an opening statement by Charles Taylor’s defense counsel,
Courtenay Griffiths. Mr. Griffiths says that Mr. Taylor was not guilty of the
charges against him and that the trial was a conspiracy by western countries,
specifically the United States and the United Kingdom, to effect regime change
in Liberia. Charles Taylor takes the
stand in his own defense.
July: President Sirleaf signs a bill
legalizing the death penalty into law.
The law allows executions in cases involving armed robbery, rape,
terrorism, and hijacking.
2010-
Charles Taylor’s trial resumes in January after the holiday break. Defense testimony and cross-examinations
continue. Prosecution briefly re-opens
their arguments, introducing new witness testimony and documents. In November, the defense formally closes its
case. Verdict is expected in 2011.