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Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast under the protection and authority of the United States. Liberia borders the French Republic to the north, east, and west, making it effectively encircled. To the south and southwest Liberia borders the Atlantic Ocean.
History[]
Dominance of the True Whig Party[]
Since 1870, Liberian politics have been dominated by the True Whig Party: a social conservative party that serves the interests of the elite Americo-Liberians, descendants of African-American colonists, who run the country. The Americo-Liberians also view themselves as having the responsibility of spreading Christianity to the rest of the country, while also adopting some West African traditions. Secret Societies are also commonplace in the country: the Poro serves as a vehicle for the interests of Liberia's lower classes, counterbalanced by the Masonic Order, an elitist and Americo-Liberian dominated secret society.
Weltkrieg[]
With the outbreak of the Weltkrieg, Germany turned to Liberia for trade as the French had closed their ports to German trade. In 1917, 75% of Liberian trade was with Germany and the German ambassador stood to benefit from the arrangement. At the same time, the French embassy in Monrovia was used as a listening station for the Entente who cabled to the Ivory Coast daily. The French Embassy would intercept information on U-boat movements in Kamerun and the Gulf of Guinea. In late 1917 a revelation was sent to the Ivory Coast and records indicated that President Daniel E. Howard held a meeting with the German Ambassador and Vice President Allen Yancy on November 14th. The German Ambassador greeted the new Liberian Ambassador to Germany, Al Haj Massaquoi, on November 20th. Eventually the German Ambassador would go missing, after his last known location was a party held by Jenkins Yancey.
The German Navy, attempting to preserve the integrity of their operations in west Africa, began agressively searching for French listening posts in the region. As a result, several ships docked in Monrovia were shot at with no diplomatic response during the course of the Weltkrieg.
Construction of the Liberian Main-line Railway[]
In an unusual act of bipartisanship, the Liberian People's Party pledged to support the construction of a railway from Buchanan to Sanniquelle, allocating $3 million USD in funds to the U.S. Corps of Engineers to construct the railway. The construction would stimulate the growth of jobs as unemployed Liberians, hoping to earn an income as construction workers, went to work on the construction project. After a rapid construction, the railway was completed and christened "The Liberian Main-line Railway."
The following 1923 election proved to be contentious with the rise of Thomas J. Faulkner, the candidate for the Liberian People's Party. While he was among the establishment, the Freemason Lodge advised Charles D.B. King to rig the election and ensure he defeated Faulkner. During voting American observers noticed various instances of voter fraud for various offices alongside a reported growth of socialism in the country.
Frank E. Tolbert, brother to Justice William Tolbert, was deemed too emotional for a position on the Liberian Supreme Court. As a result Frank turned to investing his time into the Freemasons.
Rise of Socialism and Marcus Garvey[]
George Padmore, a Trinidadian born socialist, moved to Liberia in a wave of enthusiasm for national growth. With socialism growing among Liberian workers, several workers who joined the Liberian People's Party acquired copies of the Communist Manifesto that were translated into English. Padmore circulated pamphlets supporting the International Workers' Association shortly thereafter, and later defected to form the anti-electoralist Liberian Destiny Party.
This rise of socialism was detested by Marcus Garvey, who responded by writing letters to the Universal Negro Improvement Association, stating "Further twisting of foreign ideology will not free the negro man, neither will delusions that we will be given freedom by ideologies other than our own." Eventually, the idea of a free black state which sympathetic black people would migrate to drew the attention of Marcus Garvey and the UNIA.
President Herbert Hoover, facing pressure from rubber lobbies to keep the United States open to their rubber trade and his own personal anti-socialist attitudes, agrees to not to dispute D.B. King's electoral victory in return for further Liberian compliance with the U.S. government.
Rise of Firestone Natural Rubber & the election of the True Whigs[]
Harvey S. Firestone, founder of Firestone Natural Rubber, successfully convinced Henry Ford to seek rubber for his plantations in west Africa rather than in Brazil. Later on, Firestone, taking advantages of loopholes in the Liberian political system, looks to judge William Tubman for a potential presidential campaign. But since Fireston was white he could not run for president. To promote his campaign Tubman received 50 thousand USD in his Swiss based bank account a month later. As a result of the growth of Firestone, maybe syndicalists have mutually agreed to hide their ideology in order to keep watch on the human rights in the rubber plantations.
The 1931 Presidential election would be won by Edwin Barclay, a legitimist figure with the backing of the True Whig Party's establishment.
Politics[]
Parties[]
True Whig Party[]
- The party ideology is that of rigid social conservatism, which upholds the informal goals of the Liberian government and Americo Liberians. Those goals are the strict hierarchical social order of Americo Liberians on the top and Native Liberians on the bottom with as little intermingling as possible. The strict requirements of citizenship, being black, is upheld along with the Christian mission as the True Whig's fortress. They see the wave of Syndicalism and Liberalism coming from America and the Caribbean more as threats than opportunities.
The True Republican Party[]
- Hailing as a return of the defunct Republican Party of Liberia, the Republicans stand for the financial future of Liberia above all else. Due partially to the failed railroad projects that deepen the debt crisis, D.B King and Allen Yancey formed this party in 1931. Another ally came in Harvey Firestone, who funded the creation of the party in order to expand his own business interest. William Tubman was chosen as the party's Presidential Candidate due to his clean record, and solid intellectual background. The Republican electorate comes mostly from the Americo Liberians, who wish to see Liberia succeed economically. A small portion of the Native Liberians also joined the Republicans, due to their promises of normalizing the economy. The Republicans wish to reform Liberia to follow the line of the American Republican Party.
Independent True Whig Party[]
- When the True Whig Party passed the Citizenship Act, a large amount of Native Liberians were swooned to join the True Whig Party. At the same time, many Native Liberians saw this opportunity to split the True Whig Party. Louis Arthur Grimes, a respected judge known for his legal critique, decided to throw his hat in to become the next President of Liberia. Unfortunately, the True Whig Party denied his request, and the Liberian Freemason Lodge refused his appeal. Spurred on by a wave of Liberalism crashing into Liberia from the recent American immigrants, Grimes decided to form his own party. The Independent Whigs are in favor of a gradual ending of slavery through the Liberian Congress, and the emancipation of slaves in an orderly systematic way. the Independent Whigs are willing to incur more debt in order to buy the freedom of Liberian slaves, which the international community on the whole supports.
Secret Societies[]
Masonic Order of Liberia[]
- Liberian politics are strongly influenced by the presence of secret societies; most notably the Masonic Order of Liberia. Freemasonry in Liberia is a highly prominent and secret fraternal organisation in Liberia. Their ranks consist of upper-class Americo-Liberians and is working with
Poro[]
- The Poro is a men's secret society for the lower class of Liberia, where they govern themselves behind the mask of secrecy. How large and influential this society is unknown. In recent years the Poro have become associated with far left political parties, although the extent of the alliance is unknown.
Economy[]
The Liberian economy is focused almost entirely around the export of rubber; mostly, to the United States. The heavily centralized and regressive nature of the rubber industry means meagre benefit for the lower classes and has long stoked unrest among them.
Liberia has a small domestic industry, producing some consumer goods and munitions but unable to compete with any nearby powers.
Military[]
Liberia is largely reliant on the United States for protection. Liberia's own military is very small and has a huge manpower shortage.
Army[]
The Liberian army consists of 2 under-strength infantry divisions.