Liberia is a country on the West African coast. It was founded in 1822 as a colony for freed slaves from the Americas. The American Colonization Society (ACS), a private organization, helped the colony achieve independence in 1847. Liberia was the first African republic to declare its independence and is Africa's oldest modern republic. Here are some other events in Liberia's history: 1816: The ACS is founded to resettle free Black people in Africa. 1824: The territory is named Liberia, and its main settlement is named Monrovia.