“The book titled “The First Armed Robbery or Coercion in Liberian History 1821” by G. “Gonsahn” Nuah explores the history of Liberia, focusing on its founding, colonization, and the socio-political landscape that followed. The narrative begins with the pre-colonial period of Liberia, describing the various ethnic groups, their societies, economies, and belief systems before European colonization. It then moves into the era of the American Colonization Society (ACS) and how they coerced the Bassa people into ceding their land to establish a colony for freed slaves, a process described as armed robbery.
The book delves deeply into the contradictions in American foreign policy, particularly how the United States failed to immediately recognize Liberia’s independence after its declaration in 1847, despite the country’s historical ties to the U.S. The author critiques the hypocrisy of America’s stance on Liberia’s sovereignty and the issues of race and colonialism that influenced this delay in recognition. Through detailed accounts, the book reflects on the impact of colonization on the indigenous populations of Liberia, the development of the Americo-Liberian political dominance, and the effects of the transatlantic slave trade.
