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Liberia

Republic of Liberia

by Zeljko Heimer 4-JAN-1996

Explanation of the flag

The eleven stripes stand for the eleven signatories of the Liberian declaration of independence.

Roy Stilling, 4-DEC-1996

Old flag

One of Smith's books describes the flag from 1827, based on US flag, but with a white cross instead of the stars. The proclamation of independence arose out of an incident in 1845 when the British captured a Liberian ship flying that flag, considered illegal by the British.

Zeljko Heimer, 1-MAY-1996

I read a book at my library written by an American missionary who visited Liberia shortly after its declaration of independence. He describes this flag, which bears a Christian cross (bottom arm of double length), but describes a British vessel as the first to salute it. In fact, the first salute was refused by the Liberians because it occurred on the Sabbath, so the whole scene was replayed by the British captain on Monday. Flag salutes were a big deal in those days; it was tantamount to recognition by a foreign nation.

Steve Kramer, 2-MAY-1996

The original (1827) flag of Liberia had a white cross on a blue canton. I presume this was changed to the current single star when Liberia became independent in 1845. Liberia may be the only country in the world to have gained independence because of its national flag. British warships operating against the slave trade in West Africa didn't recognize the Liberian flag and so in order to legitimize it (the flag) the territory was declared independent.

Stuart A. Notholt, 20-SEP-1996