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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Liberia
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Country in W Africa, bounded to the N and NE
by Guinea, E by the Ivory Coast, S and SW by
the Atlantic, and NW by Sierra Leone.
government The 1984 constitution provides for
a two-chamber national assembly consisting of
a 26-member senate and a 64-member house of
representatives, elected, like the president,
by universal suffrage for a six-year term.
history The area now known as Liberia was
bought by the American Colonization Society,
a philanthropic organization active in the
first half of the 19th century. The society's
aim was to establish a settlement for
liberated black slaves from the southern USA.
The first settlers arrived in 1822, and
Liberia was declared an independent republic
in 1847. The new state suffered from
financial difficulties, bankruptcy in 1909
bringing reorganization by US army officers.
For almost 160 years the country's leaders
were descended from the black American
settlers, but the 1980 coup put Africans in
power. William Tubman was president from 1944
until his death in 1971 and was succeeded by
Vice-President William R Tolbert (1913-1980),
who was re-elected in 1975. In 1980 Tolbert
was assassinated in a coup led by Master Sgt
Samuel Doe (1952-), who suspended the
constitution, banned all political parties
and ruled through the People's Redemption
Council (PRC). He proceeded to stamp out
corruption in the public service,
encountering considerable opposition and
making enemies who were later to threaten his
position. A new constitution was approved by
the PRC in 1983 and by national referendum in
1984. Political parties were again permitted,
provided they registered with the Special
Electoral Commission (SECOM). In 1984 Doe
founded the National Democratic Party of
Liberia (NDPL) and announced his intention to
stand for the presidency. By 1985 there were
11 political parties, but they complained
about the difficulties of the registration
process and only three registered in time for
the elections. Doe's party won clear
majorities in both chambers, despite alleged
election fraud, and he was pronounced
president with 50.9% of the vote. In 1985
there was an unsuccessful attempt to unseat
him. Doe alleged complicity by neighbouring
Sierra Leone and dealt harshly with the coup
leaders. There has been a gradual movement
towards a pluralist political system, with a
number of parties registering in opposition
to the ruling NDPL, which, with growing
economic problems, has threatened the
stability of the Doe regime. In July 1990 r
bel forces under Charles Taylor and a
breakaway faction led by Prince Johnson laid
seige to Doe in the presidential palace. Doe
refused an offer of assistance by the USA to
leave the country.