Why was the African country of Liberia founded?

Liberia was founded as a settlement for freed American slaves. The American Colonization Society (ACS) was formed in 1816 with the goal of repatriating free black people to Africa. The ACS believed that it would be better for free black people to live in a country where they could be full citizens, rather than face continued discrimination in the United States. Liberia was declared an independent republic in 1847, and it became the first African country to be founded by freed slaves.