Past-President Tink Hill told us about the creation of Liberia. Southerners wanted to get freedman out of the United States, and Northerners believed abolition was inevitable but didn’t want the freemen to compete for jobs. Quakers thought sending freeman back Africa would help spread Christianity in Africa. Tink showed us short video about Liberia. Liberia oldest independent state in Africa – 1847. 16,000 were relocated over several decades from the U.S. The government is modeled after the US. The capital of Monrovia named after President James Monroe. Liberian culture is very influenced by American culture. They are a happy and welcoming people. Country is about the size of West Virginia or Tennessee with 4 ½ to 5 million in population. Tink showed pictures of some of the original settlers from the U.S. Very different than the existing tribes of the area of West Africa where Liberia was formed. Tink also told us about the different conflicts that occurred in Liberia and discussed the Firestone rubber operation in Liberia and how they are helping their local workers.