L'indépendance d'Haïti perceptions aux États-Unis, 1804-1864

The end of slavery and the recognition of the Haitian independence constituted in the nineteenth century one the major political issues for the colonial powers of the time. These issues helped to determine the future of the first two free and independent countries in the Americas : Haiti and the U.S. While the U.S. became a strong and respected state, acknowledged by the international community of nations, Haiti became a pariah state, isolated, disdained, weak. The relations between the two countries from 1804 to 1864 were conditioned by this essential reality. In the perceptions of American officials, Haiti was nothing less than a country of savages to be subdued and ignored. But there were white abolitionists who defended this new black state in the negotiations over Haitiano-American relations. In the perception of black Americans, Haiti served as a symbol of the liberation of a country from slavery, as a political asylum, and as a source of political inspiration. But this perception was shared by the blacks of the Atlantic world. Thus from 1807 to 1861, this triple reference manifested itself for at least some blacks of North America by emigration to Haiti whether prompted by the Haitian government or caused by the separate initiative of American blacks themselves.The end of slavery and the recognition of the Haitian independence constituted in the nineteenth century one the major political issues for the colonial powers of the time. These issues helped to determine the future of the first two free and independent countries in the Americas : Haiti and the U.S. While the U.S. became a strong and respected state, acknowledged by the international community of nations, Haiti became a pariah state, isolated, disdained, weak. The relations between the two countries from 1804 to 1864 were conditioned by this essential reality. In the perceptions of American officials, Haiti was nothing less than a country of savages to be subdued and ignored. But there were white abolitionists who defended this new black state in the negotiations over Haitiano-American relations. In the perception of black Americans, Haiti served as a symbol of the liberation of a country from slavery, as a political asylum, and as a source of political inspiration. But this perception was shared by the blacks of the Atlantic world. Thus from 1807 to 1861, this triple reference manifested itself for at least some blacks of North America by emigration to Haiti whether prompted by the Haitian government or caused by the separate initiative of American blacks themselves.Léonard Rose-Mie. L'indépendance d'Haïti perceptions aux États-Unis, 1804-1864. In: Outre-mers, tome 90, n°340-341, 2e semestre 2003. Haïti Première République Noire, sous la direction de Marcel Dorigny. pp. 207-225