American Colonization Society, Six African Kings and Haiti
American Colonization Society back to Africa plan was complex. What does the American Colonization Society, six African Kings and Haiti have in common?
The American Colonization Society (ACS) platform to freed Blacks in America was blunt: if you do not like it here, ships are leaving the harbor, and we will help you go back to Africa.
Note: Emigrants are persons who leave their own country in order to settle permanently in another. Immigrants are people who come to one country from another to settle.
Origins of the American Colonization Society (1816)
The Haitian Revolution (1791–1804) haunted American slaveholders and inspired free Blacks. Its success showed that enslaved people could overthrow colonial powers and govern themselves. This fear and hope formed the backdrop for the creation of the American Colonization Society.
The ACS began in 1816 when Charles Fenton Mercer, a Virginia legislator, revisited earlier debates on colonization after Gabriel Prosser’s attempted rebellion. On December 21, 1816, the society was formally established at the Davis Hotel in Washington, D.C. Attendees included James Monroe, Bushrod Washington, Andrew Jackson, Francis Scott Key, and Daniel Webster, with Henry Clay presiding.
First Voyages and the Founding of Liberia
On February 6, 1820, the first ACS ship, the Elizabeth, sailed from New York to West Africa with three white agents and 88 freed Black emigrants aboard. By 1822, a settlement was established on the West African coast. In 1847, it became the independent nation of Liberia.
Virginia supported the effort with $30,000 annually in the 1850s, joined by legislatures in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Maryland. States such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Mississippi even founded their own colonies. By 1867, the ACS had sent more than 13,000 Black emigrants to Africa.
Debates Within Black and White Communities
From the start, colonization divided opinion. Some free Blacks supported emigration, believing they would never receive justice in the United States. Others, like abolitionist David Walker and later Frederick Douglass, denounced colonization as a scheme to exile African Americans rather than recognize their rights.
Some whites saw colonization as a way to remove free Blacks, whom they associated with rebellion. Others thought colonists would be happier in Africa, free from discrimination. Still others believed Black American settlers could “civilize” and Christianize Africans.
Land Purchases from African Kings
In 1821, Dr. Eli Ayers and naval officer Robert F. Stockton negotiated land purchases with local rulers: King Peter, King George, King Zoda, King Long Peter, King Governor, and King Jimmy. King Peter initially resisted but was pressured into agreement.
The ACS agents often exchanged land for goods such as tobacco, rum, powder, umbrellas, and shoes. These transactions altered power balances and reflected the unequal terms of negotiation. By 1825, Jehudi Ashmun secured more land in similar deals, expanding the colony.
Gabriel Prosser and the Haitian Connection
In 1800, Gabriel Prosser, a literate enslaved blacksmith, plotted a rebellion in Richmond, Virginia. Inspired by the Haitian Revolution, his plan aimed to seize Capitol Square and capture Governor James Monroe. The plot was betrayed, and Prosser and 26 others were executed. In its aftermath, Virginia passed stricter laws limiting the mobility and education of free and enslaved Blacks.
Saint-Domingue (Haiti) Did You Know?
In 1791, enslaved and free Blacks in Saint-Domingue began a rebellion against French rule. After slavery was abolished in 1793 and French troops withdrew in 1803, the colony declared its independence as Haiti in 1804. Haiti’s success directly influenced both Prosser’s rebellion and the fears of American slaveholders.
Legacy of the American Colonization Society
The ACS left a complicated legacy. It helped found Liberia, yet its motives ranged from humanitarian hopes to racial exclusion. For some African Americans, Liberia symbolized freedom and self-determination. For others, it was evidence that America refused to grant them equal rights at home.
The debates around colonization remain central to understanding African American history and the transatlantic ties between the United States, Africa, and Haiti.
FAQ on the American Colonization Society
Why was Liberia founded by the American Colonization Society?
Liberia was established in 1822 by the ACS as a colony for free Blacks from the United States. In 1847, it became the first independent African republic founded by formerly enslaved people and their descendants.
How did the Haitian Revolution inspire Gabriel Prosser?
The Haitian Revolution proved that enslaved people could successfully revolt and govern. Gabriel Prosser drew inspiration from Haiti when he planned his 1800 rebellion in Virginia.
Which African kings were involved in land deals with the ACS?
In 1821, ACS agents negotiated with six local rulers they named King Peter, King George, King Zoda, King Long Peter, King Governor, and King Jimmy. These agreements were often made under pressure and for goods like rum, tobacco, and weapons.
Why did some Black leaders oppose colonization?
Leaders like Frederick Douglass and David Walker argued that colonization was a racist scheme to exile free Blacks rather than guarantee their rights as American citizens. They believed African Americans should fight for equality in the United States.
