The flag of Liberia closely resembles the flag of the US. The flag consists of the famous horizontally alternating red and white stripes and a blue square with a five-pointed white star in the upper-hoist side corner. The red stripes are six in number while the white stripes are five with the red stripe at the top and also the bottom. The red and white stripes are of equal proportions. The flag of Liberia is in the proportion of 10:19. The flag was officially adopted on July 26, 1847.
The eleven stripes (six red and five white stripes) represent the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence. The red and white colors represent the courageous people and the moral excellence of the Liberians. The five-sided white star on the blue square represents Liberia as the freedom the ex-slaves were granted. The blue square represents the continent of Africa.
The flag of Liberia was designed to resemble the flag of the US, with the only difference being the 50 stars and the 13 red and white stripes. The modeling of the Liberian flag was influenced by the founding, colonization, establishing, and controlling of Liberia by freed Africa-America and Caribbean slaves with the assistance of the American Colonization Society. Upon arrival in Liberia in 1822, the freed slaves referred to themselves as Americo-Liberian to distinguish themselves from the natives. To completely distinguish themselves, and to identify with the Americans, the slaves designed their flag to resemble the American flag.
Following the settlement of freed slaves in Liberia, there was a growing need for a flag due to the gradual expansion and population growth. The first distinctive flag was acquired on April 9, 1827. The first flag also resembled the US flag, having 13 equal red and white stripes and a blue square with a single white cross. The white cross represented the Christian sentiments of the freed slaves. In 1847, the local freed slaves proclaimed Liberia’s independence, leading to a need for a national flag. The star was substituted for the cross while the number of stripes was reduced to 11 from 13.
This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018
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