Timeline of Liberia

Chronology

24 events spanning the history of Liberia. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1200

   Arrival of Spanish explorers.

   Arrival of Spanish explorers.

2. 1364

   Arrival of the Normans from France.

   Arrival of the Normans from France.

3. 1461

   Arrival of Portuguese explorers, who name the country the Grain Coast.

   Arrival of Portuguese explorers, who name the country the Grain Coast.

4. 1500

   Portuguese and British traders participate in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

   Portuguese and British traders participate in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

5. 1611

   Arrival of Dutch traders.

   Arrival of Dutch traders.

6. 1700

   Arrival of first French, then Swedish traders.

   Arrival of first French, then Swedish traders. Arrival of Dutch traders.

7. 1816

   A group of Quakers and slaveholders form the American Colonization Society (ACS).

   A group of Quakers and slaveholders in Washington, D.C., form the American Colonization Society (ACS) for the purpose of sending free Blacks to Africa.

8. 1822

   The Battle of Crown Hill.

   The Battle of Crown Hill. The colony comes under attack from some 500 members of two indigenous ethnic groups. This is among the first in a series of armed clashes between the native population and the colonists in early Liberia, indicative of the conflict of intentions and culture that marked the early, uneasy relationship between the two groups.

9. 1824

   The ACS names the colony Liberia.

   The ACS names the colony Liberia, for liberty, and the capital Monrovia, after U.S. president James Monroe.

10. 1847

    Liberia becomes independent.

    Liberia becomes independent. The Liberian Declaration of Independence is adopted and signed.