United States occupation of Haiti

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United States occupation of Haiti

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US military occupation of Haiti (1915–1934) to stabilize politics and finance.

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Origins & Early Life

The United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915, when 330 US Marines landed at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank) convinced US President Woodrow Wilson to take control of the country's political and financial interests. The occupation took place following years of socioeconomic instability within Haiti that culminated in the lynching of Haitian President Vilbrun Guillaume Sam by a mob angered by his executions of political prisoners. During the occupation, Haiti had three new presidents while the United States ruled as a military regime through martial law, led by Marines and the US-created Gendarmerie of Haiti. A corvée system of forced labor was used by the US for infrastructure projects, resulting in hundreds to thousands of deaths. The occupation ended the constitutional ban on foreign ownership of land, which had existed since the foundation of Haiti.

Career & Major Achievements

The occupation ended on August 1, 1934, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt reaffirmed an August 1933 disengagement agreement. The last contingent of Marines departed on August 15, 1934, after a formal transfer of authority to the Gendarmerie of Haiti. In the late 18th century, some Haitians fought beside Patriot partisans in the American Revolutionary War. Haiti, originally the wealthiest region in the Americas when it was the French colony of Saint-Domingue, underwent a slave revolt beginning in 1791 which led to a successful revolution in 1804, establishing the Republic of Haiti as an independent nation. The Haitian revolution frightened slaveholders living in the Southern United States, who feared the successful revolt would inspire violent uprisings elsewhere.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Such sentiments strained relations between the US and Haiti, with the US initially refusing to recognize Haitian independence and slaveholders advocating for a trade embargo against the Caribbean nation. The Haiti indemnity controversy – which the Kingdom of France forced upon Haiti through gunboat diplomacy in 1825 due to French financial losses following the revolution – resulted with Haiti using much of its revenue to pay foreign debts by the late 19th century. The US had long been interested in Haiti following the revolution. In 1868, US President Andrew Johnson suggested annexing Hispaniola, including Haiti. The year prior, the government of Santo Domingo (now known as the Dominican Republic) had requested to be annexed by the United States out of fear of an invasion by its neighbor Haiti.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1791: 1791 Milestone — Haiti, originally the wealthiest region in the Americas when it was the French colony of Saint-Domingue, underwent a slave revolt beginning in 1791 which led to a successful revolution in 1804, establishing the Republic of Haiti as an independent nation.
2. 1825: 1825 Milestone — The Haiti indemnity controversy – which the Kingdom of France forced upon Haiti through gunboat diplomacy in 1825 due to French financial losses following the revolution – resulted with Haiti using much of its revenue to pay foreign debts by the late 19th century.
3. 1868: 1868 Milestone — In 1868, US President Andrew Johnson suggested annexing Hispaniola, including Haiti.
4. 1915: 1915 Milestone — The United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915, when 330 US Marines landed at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after the National City Bank of New York (now Citibank) convinced US President Woodrow Wilson to take control of the country's political and financial interests.
5. 1933: 1933 Milestone — Roosevelt reaffirmed an August 1933 disengagement agreement.
6. 1934: 1934 Milestone — The occupation ended on August 1, 1934, after President Franklin D.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: United States occupation of Haiti

True or False: “The US occupation of Haiti was solely motivated by humanitarian concerns following political turmoil.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While instability was present, the primary drivers included securing American financial interests and countering perceived foreign influences like Germany.

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