Liberia annexes the Republic of Maryland

Background. The Republic of Maryland existed from 1834 to 1857 as a settlement of freed African-American slaves and freeborn African Americans, primarily from the U.S. state of Maryland. Established under the auspices of the Maryland State Colonization Society, the colony remained separate from the Commonwealth of Liberia to maintain a trade monopoly. The first area settled was Cape Palmas, which served as the geographic center of the colony.

Independence and Governance. In 1847, the Maryland State Colonization Society published a constitution based on the United States Constitution. Following an independence referendum in 1853, the state declared its independence on May 29, 1854, under the name Maryland in Liberia, with its capital at Harper. By 1851, the population was reported to be between 900 and 1,000, with four churches and six schools.

Annexation. The Republic of Maryland recognized that it could not survive as an independent state. Following a referendum, Maryland was annexed by Liberia in 1857, becoming known as Maryland County. The annexation treaty was signed on March 18, 1857, though some sources cite April 6, 1857, as the date of the merger.