1820: Senator Says US Will Never Acknowledge Haiti

Robert V. Hayne, a senator from South Carolina, summarizes US policy toward Haiti: “Our policy with regard to Haiti is plain. We never can acknowledge her independence.” This position reflects the United States’ fear that Haiti’s example would inspire slave revolts in other parts of the world and bring an end to slavery worldwide. [Dunkel, 1994; Louisiana Weekly, 3/8/2004]