In the 1800s, before and after the Civil War, about 15,000 freed American slaves immigrated to Africa. This Kentucky Life special traces the ex-slaves’ journey from Kentucky to Liberia, West Africa. As they arrived in Africa, they formed their own independent county, “Little America” as some called it. They named their towns after American places such as “Kentucky in Africa” and “Clay-Ashland.” These towns are still there today, and in many ways, the population lives like Americans. Much of the story of this historic relationship is told through the words of people from the period, such as Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, and Alfred Russell, a president of Liberia from Kentucky.
Additional information and links to various resources related to Liberia and the colonization movement can be found on the Kentucky Life web site.
Grade Levels: 4-12
Resource Type: Video