Sierra Leone became a British Colony in the late 1700s. This happened almost 10 years before most of Africa became full of European colonies. This colony was founded, almost directly after America gained its freedom. Sierra Leone was basically created to be a dumping ground for freed slaves. There was only one other colony, in Africa, like it, and that was Liberia, which is directly South. When this colony was formed, its capital was called Freetown, for its purpose, now its considered home to the people there. Sierra Leone was initially very small and limited to the interior of the coast. Their language started out as mostly English with pieces of other African languages. The name for it is Krio. The descendants of the freed slaves are known as the Creole community.
In the late 1800’s the British government and businesses wanted to expand their control of the colony. This caused many of the natives (the Mende and Temne people) moved to Freetown. In 1930's the diamond mines were open, and they were very profitable to England.
Sierra Leone gained its independence in 1961. However, England kept control of this diamond mines (specifically "DeBeers" a diamond mining company; this company controls most of the world's diamond trading). This is what caused the Sierra Leonean government to be so corrupt. The country only had one resource and because that was being controlled, they had no way to make any money.
In the late 1800’s the British government and businesses wanted to expand their control of the colony. This caused many of the natives (the Mende and Temne people) moved to Freetown. In 1930's the diamond mines were open, and they were very profitable to England.
Sierra Leone gained its independence in 1961. However, England kept control of this diamond mines (specifically "DeBeers" a diamond mining company; this company controls most of the world's diamond trading). This is what caused the Sierra Leonean government to be so corrupt. The country only had one resource and because that was being controlled, they had no way to make any money.