American Colonization Society

Definition

The American Colonization Society, founded in 1816, was an organization dedicated to transporting free African Americans from the United States to settle on the west coast of Africa.

Related terms

Liberia: A West African country established by freed American slaves under the auspices of the American Colonization Society.

Back-to-Africa Movement: A movement led by Marcus Garvey in the early 20th century advocating for a return to Africa by descendants of enslaved Africans living in America. It was inspired partly by earlier efforts like those of ACS.

Repatriation: The process of returning someone back to their place of origin or citizenship. This term is often used when discussing movements like those led by ACS and Marcus Garvey.