Linconia facts for kids
Linconia was the name of a special idea for a new settlement in Central America. It was suggested in 1862 by Samuel C. Pomeroy, a Senator from Kansas. He worked on this plan after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln asked him to find a place where freed African Americans from the United States could live.
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Why Lincoln Wanted a Colony
President Abraham Lincoln had long supported a group called the American Colonization Society. This group believed that free Black people should move out of the United States. Starting in the 1820s, this group helped create settlements in West Africa. These settlements later joined together to form the country of Liberia. The capital city of Liberia, Monrovia, was even named after the fifth U.S. President, James Monroe.
Lincoln wanted former slaves to return to Africa or other warm places. He believed this should happen only if they agreed and if the local governments allowed it. He spoke about this idea many times, even during the American Civil War.
The Plan for Linconia
By 1862, Lincoln thought that Chiriquí Province would be a great spot for a new colony. At that time, Chiriquí was part of the Granadine Confederation, but today it is in Panama. Lincoln believed that Black people, especially those who had just gained their freedom, could have better lives there than in the United States.
Meeting at the White House
In August 1862, President Lincoln invited important African American leaders to the White House. He wanted to talk about his plan. He told them that the area had "very rich coal mines" and "among the finest [harbors] in the world." However, many African Americans, including famous speaker Frederick Douglass, did not support the idea of moving away from the United States. The leaders at the White House meeting also did not like the plan.
Later that month, a newspaper called The National Republican published an article titled "The Colony of Linconia." It said that everything was ready to start a large colony, and Senator Pomeroy would lead the project. Pomeroy suggested that 100 African American families should travel with him as "pioneers" on October 1. In September, Pomeroy got permission from the Chiriquí government and the landowner, Ambrose W. Thompson.
Why the Plan Failed
However, countries in Central America like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras were worried. They told Washington D.C. that they did not agree with this plan. Costa Rica even claimed some of the land in Chiriquí and made a formal complaint. These Central American countries also thought Pomeroy's plan was like an illegal attempt to take over land, similar to what William Walker had done before.
The U.S. Secretary of State, William H. Seward, told these nations that the plan would not go forward without their agreement. But Lincoln still tried to push the idea. By late September, after Seward warned him about the growing anger from Central American nations, Lincoln decided to give up on the idea. This made Senator Pomeroy very upset, as he had already found 500 "pioneers" ready to go.
See also
In Spanish: Linconia (colonia) para niños
