The Americo-Liberians created communities and social infrastructure closely based on what they knew from American society. They spoke English, and built churches and houses in styles resembling those found in the southern United States. Although they never constituted more than 5% of the population of Liberia, the Americo-Liberians controlled key resources that allowed them to enslave the local native peoples. The Americo-Liberians controlled the native peoples’ access to the ocean, modern technical skills, literacy, higher levels of education, and valuable relationships with many of the United States’ institutions—including the American government.