LIBERIA'S AMAZING HISTORICAL PICTURES AND INFORMATION
- Ruled for 27 years
- National Unification and the economic Open Door
- Tried to reconcile the interests of the native tribes with those of the Americo-Liberian elite
- Increased foreign investment in Liberia to stimulate economic growth.
- Made Liberia the 2nd largest rate of economic growth in the world.
- At his death in 1971 in a London clinic, Liberia had the largest mercantile fleet in the world
- Liberia had the world's largest rubber industry
- Liberia had the third largest exporter of iron ore in the world
- Liberia attractred more than US$1 billion in foreign investment.
- Major constructions: Road linking all nine counties
- Public education network (MCSS)
- Modernized the country and maintained a close relationship with the United States.
- Construction of RIA, JFK Hospital, New Executive Mansion
- Did not make education compulsory...native people were not forced to send their kid to school.
- Instituted reforms to close the disparity between Americo-Liberians and indigens
- Raised expectations while the economy failed, stimulating opposition, a national strike, and a military coup (1980) in which he was killed.
- Initiated some liberal reforms and allowed the creation of an opposition party
- Though reelected in 1975, his government was criticized sharply for the deep economic disparities between different sectors of the population, notably the Americo-liberians, who had dominated the country since independence, and the various indigenous ethnic groups that constituted the majority of the population.
- Joined the non-alliance nations
- Implimented the National Fund-raising Rallies
- Constructed new market outlets for street vendors
- Hosted OAU, constructed several low-income housings
- Promoted self-reliance and self-sufficiencies
- Constructed several vocational and educational institutions...including Harper, and Zwedru Multi-lateral vocational educational institutes
- Repaired many of Liberia's infrastructions and roads
- Constructed the OAU village
- Initially popular, he maintained ties with Western powers.
- Introduced new currencies
- Initiated repair and constructions of infrastructures
- Built a football stadium, launched several unfinished constructions
- Wanted Liberia to have her own office buidings, instead of renting
- Continued Tolbert's grain/green revolution.
- He repressed opposition, was hostile to neighboring nations and was faced with widespread rebellion by 1989.
