On 27 October 1846, voters in the Commonwealth of Liberia were asked whether to pursue independence and convene a constitutional convention. The decision opened the final political process that produced the Republic of Liberia in 1847.
Question before the electorate
The vote concerned support for independence from the governing authority of the American Colonization Society and authorization for representatives to frame a constitution for a sovereign republic.
Background
By the mid-1840s, Liberian leaders faced increasing difficulty enforcing customs rules and territorial claims because the Commonwealth was not recognized internationally as a sovereign state. British and French commercial pressure strengthened the case for independence. The American Colonization Society also encouraged Liberian leaders to assume sovereign authority.
Outcome
The proposal for independence was approved. A constitutional convention met in Monrovia in 1847, drafted the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and Liberia declared itself an independent republic on 26 July 1847.
Participation and limitations
The referendum did not represent every person living within the territory claimed by Liberia. Political participation was concentrated in the settler-governed Commonwealth and excluded most Indigenous communities from the decision-making structure. That limitation is essential context for understanding both the founding vote and the political order that followed.
Results evidence
The date, purpose, and approval of independence are documented, but Liberia Civic has not yet located a complete contemporaneous precinct-by-precinct or national numerical return. No unsupported vote total is displayed.
Historical significance
This was the foundational popular authorization for the constitutional process. It links the colonial Commonwealth, the 1847 Constitutional Convention, the Declaration of Independence, and Liberia’s first general election.
Evidence status
Verified chronology and outcome; partial numerical record. The referendum and its successful result are established. Detailed totals remain under archival research.