Liberia has Monrovia as its capital and was founded by formerly enslaved people from the United States.
The American Colonization Society established a settlement for free-born and formerly enslaved Black Americans on the West African coast in 1822. The settlement was named Monrovia after James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States. Liberia declared independence on 26 July 1847.
Liberia’s flag resembles the United States flag, with red and white stripes and a blue canton containing a single white star. The design reflects the country’s historical ties to American settlers, although Liberia developed its own political and cultural identity.
Liberia is often confused with Sierra Leone, which also received formerly enslaved people from the Atlantic world. Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, was founded by formerly enslaved Black people, but Sierra Leone and Liberia are separate countries with distinct colonial histories.