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Liberia Research Paper

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Do you know where most of our rubber comes from? Well 70% of the world’s rubber comes from Liberia where Firestone’s rubber plantation is located. Liberia is a country filled with political, and tribal conflict. Liberia is located in Western Africa, Sierra Leone borders it to the west, Guinea to the north and Ivory Coast to its east. Conflict and imperialism are two words that define current and past Liberia. The factors that contribute to Liberia’s problems are ethnic/tribal groups battling for power, and mainly Firestone and other foreign companies using Liberia, ultimately leaving liberia “Broken”. Why is liberia is broken? Well Liberia is practically is owned by foreign companies, and relies on them for jobs, while tribes fight for power. …show more content…

The American Colonization Society helped free black people emigrate to Africa they settled in on land which later turned out to be Liberia. Liberia was one of the only countries to avoid being colonized by a European country instead they were colonized by Americo-Liberians who founded Liberia. In 1930 william Tubman an Americo-Liberian ruled Liberia, therefore America-Liberians were treated better and were usually plantation owners. Later down the line William Tolbert came to power, but was assassinated April 12th, 1980 by Samuel Doe a Krahn.Tolbert was disemboweled in bed because Doe was sick of the corruption in Liberia. Tolberts ministers were also killed on live television. Doe came into power but was not well suited to control the Liberian government. This is because his people were inexperienced and unable to really fill the positions necessary to run a country. One key position in the government was filled by Charles Taylor who was in charge of office. While he was in office he stole money from Samuel Doe and was charged with embezzlement, and was sent to jail in the US. This lead to the rising of Taylor’s rebellion and a gruesome, and bloody clash between …show more content…

he traveled to Libya where he was a trained as a guerilla fighter. His rebellion N.P.F.L. formed and intended to take control of Liberia and wipe out Doe’s regime. When Taylor finally returns to Liberia his rebellion storms into Firestone’s golf club. They stole vehicles, food, radios, and cash from Firestone. When the rebellion couldn’t get any more resources from Firestone they made their way to the villages. While the rebellion raided villages for vehicles and valuables they also looked to kill Krahn and Mandingos. Firestone employees then flee Liberia after Taylor threatens to blow up Doe’s headquarters. The civil war begins and factions begin to fight for power. There was many tribes fighting for power but the N.P.F.L. and Doe’s regime were the main factors in the civil war. The wars were bloody and undisciplined, factions used witchcraft to protect themselves against bullets so they dressed in wigs, masks, and odd clothing. Even with the witchcraft Taylor and the N.P.F.L. gained the upper hand. By the fall of 1990 Taylor seizes the majority of Liberia except for Monrovia which is up for grabs. All the while Taylor acquires territory, president Doe is captured by former Taylor commander, warlord Prince Johnson. While Doe is captured he’s tortured and interrogated and eventually bleeds out. As the civil war proceeded Firestone was losing money because the plantation was unoccupied therefore

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