The Kru are an ethnic group who live in interior of Liberia. Their history is one marke by a strong sense of ethnicity and resistance to occupation. In 1856 when part of Liberia was still known as the independent state of Maryland, the Kru along with the Grebo resisted Maryland settlers' efforts to control their trade. They were also infamous amongst early European slave raiders as being especially resistant to capture. They would supposedly kill their captors or kill themselves rather than succumb to slavery.