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The foundation of Liberia. Liberia was also a product of the abolition of the slave trade. It was founded by the Americans in 1882.

Reasons for the foundation of Liberia as a colony.

The high rate of criminal activities i.e. robbery, theft by the former slaves.
The former slaves were idle and disorderly in America hence bringing them back to Liberia.
The mass unemployment by the Negro slaves in America.
The increase in population in America.
Political problems like demonstrations organized by the former slaves.
American government also wanted a colony for stopping slave trade.
The Negroes were openly segregated as unwanted people in American society.
The need to spread Christianity and civilization needed an area to base from.
To get employment opportunities for the unemployed Americans who became administrators in Liberia.
Liberia had good climate that favoured agriculture and settlement hence its foundation.
The fertile soils in Liberia led to the foundation as a colony.
The Natural habours of Liberia i.e. in Monrovia which became a calling station for ships.
There was fresh waters in Liberia from her many rivers and streams.
Liberia was to provide market for the American manufactured goods i.e. clothes, guns etc.
The former slaves were economically expensive to American which had just got her independence.
Their involvement in the American war of independence by helping the British against the Americans annoyed them hence the foundation of Liberia for them.
The need to get a permanent home for the former slaves hence Liberia was founded.
The desire to get a source of raw materials for their industries using Liberia.
Liberia had a lot of vacant land for settlement and agriculture to support the people.
It was near America i.e. Liberia coast was adjacent to the American continent.
It was near the ocean hence convenient area to settle freed black slaves.
The role of humanitarian organs in America looked at slavery as an evil and supported the deportation of former slaves.

Problems faced by the early settlers in Liberia.

Disease like malaria killed many
They lacked shelter on the arrival
Transport was a problem since there were no roads.

They were few in number
It took time for them to adjust to the new environment of West Africa.
They were attacked by the local people i.e. Mamba, via etc
Financial problems i.e. depended on African colonization society which lacked funds.
Power struggle between the leaders of the society i.e. Ayres and Jehudi.
The leaders of the society were arrogant and favoured only the half castes
There were constant threats from those who continued with slave trade.
Lacked capital to start trade
They arrived during the rainy season which destroyed their tents and other properties.
They were not used to tropical climate of high rainfall of temperatures
The inadequate lands as the natives were not willing to part away with their land hence overcrowding.
The unfair constitution which gave much powers to the colonization society.
There was wide spread unemployment and poverty.
The settler faced a problem from European colonization threats i.e. Britain, France etc.
There was no proper education for their children.

Describe the political, economic and social development in Liberia by 1900.

It was founded in 1822 by the American colonization society. The colony expanded inland from its base of Monrovia.
Politically, Liberia was under the direct rule of the American colonization society.
Liberia had a constitution which was modeled like that of America.
The interior was administered through indirect rule system i.e. by the Monrovia government.
Liberia was divided into political parties i.e. the Republican Party for the half castes and the time whigs party of the full blooded Negroes.
In 1847, a referendum was granted and the majority voted for self- rule.
In the same year, the Americans granted the settlers independence.
Elections were organized and two political parties were in place i.e. republican and the whigs party.
In 1848, Joseph Roberts of the Republican Party was elected the first president of the republic of Liberia and the whigs took the opposition seat.
In 1869, the opposition under J. Roye a true whigs with full Negro blood won the election as the elected president.
He unconstitutionally increased the presidential term limits from 2 years to 4 years. He was arrested by the republican mob and died shortly.
After the death of Roye, J. Roberts was again re-elected for two more terms from 1873 – 1877.
In 1877 election, the whigs party won elections.
Economically, they depended on the American colonization society since they were poor.
By 1830, the settlers carried out trade internally and externally.
They also carried out agriculture for food mostly.
The government also imposed custom duties on the ships trading in their ports.
By 1850s Liberia exported palm oil, coffee etc
Manufacturing industries were built to produce sugar, molasses.
Transport and communication lines developed between the interior and the coast to transport goods.
Companies were put in place by prosperous traders i.e. Francis Devany.
Socially, they lived together to settle their problems.
Schools were built based on Western education i.e. Liberia college in 1862.
Hospital were built to treat malaria which killed many people.
Many churches were built and many settlers converted.
Adopted English language as the official language.
Many settlers got employment in government civil service and others carried on with trade.
Later due to politics led to disunity between the Mullc the full black Negroes.
The Americans discriminated the settlers and mostly the Mullatoes.

Hausa states in west africa.

The Hausa states were located in the present day Nigeria and they were seven in number i.e. Daura, Kano, Katsina, Zaria, Rano, Gobir and Hiram.

Factors for the rise and growth of Hausa states.

Fertile soils which favoured agriculture
Islam united the people and led to its rise
The death of Askia Muhammed enabled them to break away.
Trade also generated a lot of wealth
Peace in the state led to its rise
Justice i.e. legal system led to its rise
Weak neighbor e.g. Nupe, kororofa
Favourable climate through the year
Strong army which defended and expanded the empire led to its rises.
Able leaders who provided the required administration.
The Moroccan invasion of Songhai which led to confusion in the empire led to full independence of Hausa states
Early contacts with Moslems scholars.
Taxes imposed on the traders who came into the states.

Factors for the decline and collapse of the Hausa States.

Interstate wars i.e. fought each other and led to its decline.
External attacks led to its decline
Decline in agriculture due to wars
Decline in trade due to civil wars
The armies became weak due to over fighting
Disunity and hatred among the Hausa leaders
Religious conflicts between moslems and non-moslems
The Fulani Jihad’s led to the decline
Dictatorship of Hausa rulers made them to become unpopular

The jihads in west africa.

§ A Jihad is a holy war fought by the Moslems against non-moslems.

§ In West Africa, they were mostly organised in Hausa land against the pagan leaders.

§ They were organized by Uthman Dan Fordio.

Causes of the 19th C Fulani Jihads in West Africa,

The Moslems wanted to purify Islam
Religious oppression i.e. Moslems were not allowed to worship, preach etc.
Segregation against the educated Fulani in employment and politics.

Slave trade practiced by the Hausa rulers annoyed Moslems
Forced pagan marriage i.e. forcing Moslems girls to marry the pagans
Forced army service of the Moslems to torture fellow Moslems led to a jihads
The influence of leader like Uthman Dan fordio.
Heavy taxation and the harsh means of collection led to a jihad
Injustice in courts of law i.e. corrupt, took bribes, tortured the Fulani Moslems
The high level of corruption of Hausa states rulers annoyed the Moslems
The dictatorial system of Hausa kings led to the jihad war.
Arrests without trial of the Fulani Moslems
Yunfa’s attack of Uthman Dan Fordio’s camp between 1794 – 1808 led to jihad. Yunfa was a king of Gobir state.
The Jihad’s wanted to restore trade and Agriculture which had decline.
The long term enmity between Moslems and non-moslems led to a jihad
The desire to revive education as it was in the empires western Sudan.
The need to form states based on Sharia laws led to jihad:
The desire to over throw pagan leaders led to the jihad
The need to spread Islam led to a jihad
Discrimination of Fulani Moslems in land ownership by the Hausa rulers
The wealth of the Fulani town traders were not safe under pagan rulers.
The jihads were inspired or influenced by the early Islamic movements Dan Fordio’s Jihad
He was inspired by his former teacher at Agades called Jabril and when he returned in Gobir in 1774 wanted to put in practices what he had learnt.

Reasons for the success of Jihads in West Africa.

The Hausa kings were not united i.e. Gobir was against Katsina
Lack of support from the vassal states by the kings of Hausa states.
The personality of fordio who was well educated and liked by his people
The Jihadists isolated the Hausa states and conquered one by one
The jihad soldiers had experience in fighting
The Hausa kings lacked enough support of their peasant population
The Nomadic Fulani were well organized and formed a big part of the army than the Hausa armies.
Fordio promised the flag bearers to become Emirs after the war hence fought with determination.
The books written by Fordio and his preaching changed many people to support him
Fordio’s brother Abdullah and his son Bello were good military leaders and led to success.
Civil wars had weakened the Hausa states hence the success of jihads
Financial support from the rich Fulani led to the success of the Jihads
The surrendering of Fulani Moslems soldiers from Hausa pagan army to join Fulani jihadists gave useful information to the fighters.
The superior war tactics i.e. the use of square formation during the battlefield
The Hausa states had also been weakened by the external at tacks i.e. Kwararata

Effects of the Fulani Jihad’s in the. 19thC in West Africa.

Led to the creation of large political units e.g. the Sokoto caliphate, Tokolor Empire.
Led to deposition of Hausa leaders e.g. Yunisa
Led to the establishment of the Fulani over Hausa land
led to the spread of Islam in West Africa
Increased education and learning in West Africa
Law and order was restored in West Africa
Led to the inspiration of other jihads in West Africa i.e Macina Jihads
Led to loss of lives and property
Taxation was made fair
Administration was now based on the sharia law
It influenced the career and policies of other leader’s e.g. Samoure Toure.
Hausa language became the official language
Trade increased in Hausa land as many Moslems came in West Africa.
Led to peace in West Africa
Education was developed i.e. great Libraries were established
Arabic culture was revived i.e. way of dressing, praying five times.
Led to the creation of unified empire with a strong system of governance
Led to the end of corruption and bribery, unfair arrests.
Led to depopulation in some areas
It led to the collapse of Bornu when the jihads attacked and defeated its army.
Manufacturing industries developed e.g. cloth wearing
It also led to the collapse of some small states like sise
The Fulani gave up their nomadic life of moving and settled down to practice agriculture as well
Led to the rise of men of low status to rise to power i.e. the
Fulani became the dominant and wealthy ruling class in Hausa land.

The career and achievements of ‘Uthman Dan Fordio.

He was born in 1754 in Gobir to the family of the Toronkawa clan of the Fulani.
He attended moslems schools in different places including Agades where he was taught revolutionary ideas to free the moslems in form of holy wars
He later graduated and became a teacher and a preacher.
He started teaching and preaching in Degel the capital of Gobir at the young age.
He also made missionary visits to other parts of Hausa land i.e.Kebbi, Zafara where he criticized pagan practices of the Hausa kings.
He became too popular that the king of Gobir Bawa employed him in his court as a tutor in 1781 to the royal family but continued criticizing the pagan ways.
His teaching attracted many people in Degel which became a threat to the government, after the death of king. Bawa, his successor Nafata restricted conversions except Fordio.
Nafat died in 1802 and was succeeded by Yunfa who attempted to kill Fordio who left Degel for Guda in 1804 and formed a jihad military camp and declared a jihad against the Hausa rulers which he later defeated.
Uthman Dan Fordio is therefore seen as a liberator who over thrown the oppressive rule of the Hausa kings.
He purified Islam based on the principles of the Koran
He created a strong administration with him as the leader
Promoted justice in courts of laws based on the sharia
He created peace and stability in Hausa land
He appointed capable administrators i.e. his brother Abdullah, his son Bello
He ended slave trade and slavery which had led to the suffering of people
1He built a strong and holy army with discipline.
He promoted trade in Hausa land and many foreign traders came in
He promoted Education hence leading to literacy

What were the achievements of Muhammed Bello in the Jihad Movement of the 19th

After the Jihad movement, he was appointed the head of the Sokoto Caliphate between 1817 – 1827. His achievements can be seen below.
He was a son of Uthman Dan Fodio who participate in the Jihad movement as one of the commanders.
He defeated king Yunfa’s army at Gudu
He liberated Zanfara and Kebbi
He built the Sokoto capital in 1809.
He built a strong army with maximum discipline ,
He promoted peace in the Sokoto Caliphate
He defeated the external attacks i.e. Tuaregs and Bornu
He ended political and social segregation in his administration
He created a good administration in the Sokoto Caliphate
He also negotiated Peace with Hausa rebel who had not accepted the moslems rule
He promoted trade and commerce within and also with other Moslems countries.
He ended corruption in the Sokoto caliphate
He promoted justice of all people
He promoted democracy i.e. replaced military chiefs with educated Moslems.
He promoted education which improved literacy
He civilized the Fulani nomads and encouraged them to settle in a permanent place.
He built forts which served as barracks for soldiers
He spread Islam i.e. any person who joined Islam could not pay tax

Al-hajj umar’s jihad in the tukolor empire.

§ He was a Tokolor born in 1794 and a strong Tijaniya Moslems due to Uthman Dan Frodo’s success in his jihad inspired him to organize a jihad to overthrow the pagan Tokolor rulers which he succeeded.

Achievements of Al-Haji Umar in the Tokolor Empire.

He created a strong army
He conquered the states of Banbara
He liberated the people from the oppressive rule of Tokolor harsh rulers.
He promoted Islam
He built forts for protection
He captured Timbuktu and made it a centre of trade and education
He promoted education based on the Islamic principles
He promoted justice of all people
He promoted trade in his Empire
He created a good system of administration
He created peace in the empire
He created good relationship with other foreign countries

Why did Al-Haji Umar succeed in establishing the Tokolor Empire?

Superior arms got from the French traders.
He was a good mobilized and got many followers in his preaching.
He manufactured his own ammunition in his Empire
He had a strong army
The defeat of Bambara states of Bambuk and Karta gave morale and determination to the fighters
Determination to overthrow the pagan rule
He isolated the French from his enemies
Tokolor rulers were harsh and people hated them and lacked support
Appointed trusted relatives in administration and military operations
Disunity of the Tokolor states
He used expansionist policy to create his Empire
Wealth from trade especially after the capture of Timbuktu which was a trade Centre.
The personality of Al-Haji Umar as a good leader

Effects of Al-Haji Umar’s Jihad

Led to the overthrow of pagan rulers
Led to loss of lives and property
Led to peace and order in the Empire
The sharia law was highly used
Many Moslem schools were built
Led to division between the Tijaniya and Qadiriya Moslems sects
The Empire later received many Moslems foreigners
It delayed the French conquest of the area
The Tokolor and the Bambara were united
He expanded the Tokolor Empire to the east of Timbuktu
It marked the end of pagan worship
Trade increased in Tokolor
Tijaniya Moslems brotherhood spread in the empire
Led to the oppression of non-Tijaniya
Discrimination in the government by the Qadiriya ended.