Colonization

Stacey:) __ The Colonization of Sierra Leone __ Thesis:﻿ The colonization of Sierra Leone not only destroyed an ancient culture, but also defeated Great Britain's original purpose of creating a land where ex-slaves could at last be free.    __ The Beginning __
 * Portuguese navigators were the first to reach Sierra Leone in 1460.
 * They named Sierra Leone (Serra Lyoa).
 * By the 1500s, European traders stopped on the coast of Sierra Leone regularly, where the Temne lived.
 * The Europeans traded cloth and metal goods for ivory, timber, and small numbers of slaves.



**__ Freetown﻿ __**


 * After the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain freed slaves who sided with them against the American colonies, and brought them back to Afric﻿a
 * In 1787, About 400 freed slaves were brought to the Sierra Leone Peninsula.


 * Land bought from Temne leaders.
 * The Providence of Freedom was established.
 * Most died of disease within the first year.
 * Freetown was founded.
 * In 1792, about 1,100 more freed slaves were brought to Sierra Leone.
 * About 500 free blacks from Jamaica joined them in 1800.
 * In 1807 British government took over the settlement as a navel base against slave trade.
 * Between 1807 and 1861, the British Navy brought in more than 50,000 'liberated Africans.'
 * They held court in Freetown for 'slave ship cases.'
 * The newly freed slaves were a variation of cultures, having been taken from all over Africa.
 * The British used their vulnerability to convert them all to Christianity, to kindly help them form a community.
 * In 1827, Fourah Bay College was founded, where Africans were to be educated.

**__ Creoles or Krios __**
 * Freedmen and their descendants.
 * The Creoles/Krios prospered.
 * Many became educated professionals (to European standards), such as doctors and lawyers.

**__Colony and Protectorate__** __Creoles__
 * The colonial government became friends with surrounding tribes.
 * Able to buy more land and gain control over the entire coast.
 * In 1896, Britain proclaimed their newly acquired land a British Protectorate.
 * French and Liberian governments were nearby and also wanted the timber, vegetable oil, and peanuts Britain was harvesting.
 * Within the Protectorate, Chiefs could continue to rule their tribes, but under the supervision of British District Commissioners.
 * Innovation and education was discouraged within tribes.
 * A hut tax was made up to pay for the new protectorate administration.
 * The ruling chief had not approved of the protectorate, so the tribes objected.
 * In 1898, a revolt broke out against Britain.
 * Britain suppressed the revolt by the end of the year with their superior weaponry.
 * The Creoles had held official positions of power in the original colony and hoped to one day govern themselves.
 * Creoles were slowly removed from their places in power so that British officials could head the colony and protectorate.

**__ ﻿﻿ Decolonization Begins __**


 * Britain decided to Decolonize Sierra Leone after the war mainly because of the pressure from other countries to do so after WWII.
 * The idea that there was no superior race was strong, considering that Hitler's idea of superior race was now viewed by the rest of the world as cruel and destructive.
 * Britain's decolonization process gave control to the majority (Mende and Temne).
 * This continued to keep Creoles out of power.

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