Liberian history began in the early 19th century when the United States established the colony of Liberia for freed African American slaves. In 1847, Liberia declared its independence, becoming the first African republic to do so. The settlers, known as Americo-Liberians, dominated the political landscape, often marginalizing the indigenous populations. Throughout the 20th century, Liberia experienced political instability, including a coup in 1980 led by Samuel Doe. This was followed by a brutal civil war from 1989 to 2003, which devastated the country. After years of conflict, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became Africa's first female president in 2006, marking a new era for Liberia.