20th century – 20th century
Liberia
Liberia’s internal decolonisation under President William Tubman expanded political representation from the Americo-Liberian coastal counties toward the hinterland. Tubman’s unification policy opened legislative institutions to inland counties, appointed people with tribal backgrounds to senior positions, and ended the colonial-style administration in 1964. His presidency also integrated Liberia more fully into continental African politics while maintaining an export economy based on mining and primary production.
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The Story
When William Tubman became president in 1944, legislative representation was concentrated in the coastal counties, where descendants of Americo-Liberians and other immigrants dominated public affairs. The hinterland majority was still governed in a colonial fashion, with district commissioners supervising chiefs. Some inland people had entered Americo-Liberian society and government service, but the political system remained divided between coastal and interior communities.
Tubman’s “unification policy” began to erode this division. In 1944, representation in the House of Representatives was extended to the hinterland. In 1964, the Senate was opened to new hinterland counties and the colonial-style administration was ended. Tubman also sought to appoint people of tribal background to senior positions and became the first president to travel regularly in the interior.
Political competition remained restricted within the long-established True Whig Party, the only party then tolerated and still controlled by coastal leaders. Tubman nevertheless brought Liberia more fully into continental African politics, supporting the federal cause during the Nigerian Civil War and acting as an elder statesman. His open-door economic policy reduced Liberia’s economic dependence on the United States, although the economy remained heavily dependent on exports based on mining and primary production.
20th century – 20th century
Liberia
Liberia’s internal decolonisation under President William Tubman expanded political representation from the Americo-Liberian coastal counties toward the hinterland. Tubman’s unification policy opened legislative institutions to inland counties, appointed people with tribal backgrounds to senior positions, and ended the colonial-style administration in 1964. His presidency also integrated Liberia more fully into continental African politics while maintaining an export economy based on mining and primary production.
Continue exploring
The Story
When William Tubman became president in 1944, legislative representation was concentrated in the coastal counties, where descendants of Americo-Liberians and other immigrants dominated public affairs. The hinterland majority was still governed in a colonial fashion, with district commissioners supervising chiefs. Some inland people had entered Americo-Liberian society and government service, but the political system remained divided between coastal and interior communities.
Tubman’s “unification policy” began to erode this division. In 1944, representation in the House of Representatives was extended to the hinterland. In 1964, the Senate was opened to new hinterland counties and the colonial-style administration was ended. Tubman also sought to appoint people of tribal background to senior positions and became the first president to travel regularly in the interior.
Political competition remained restricted within the long-established True Whig Party, the only party then tolerated and still controlled by coastal leaders. Tubman nevertheless brought Liberia more fully into continental African politics, supporting the federal cause during the Nigerian Civil War and acting as an elder statesman. His open-door economic policy reduced Liberia’s economic dependence on the United States, although the economy remained heavily dependent on exports based on mining and primary production.