Was Jefferson's Haitian Policy Racist?

Abstract

Arthur Scherr has ferreted out seemingly every reference to Jefferson's policy in Haiti in American state papers (published and unpublished), the Jefferson Papers, papers of other leading political figures, and other sources. Unfortunately, much of his good work is marred by repetition and tendentiousness. Scherr's evidence overwhelmingly suggests that Jefferson's policy was based primarily on geostrategy and the domestic conflict between anglophobic Republicans and francophobic Federalists rather than racial doctrines or fear of slave rebellion. More often than not, Scherr's Jefferson appears most concerned with American relations with France and England or with efforts at territorial expansion (particularly into Florida and Louisiana) when formulating Haitian policy. Early chapters demonstrate that Jefferson's policy did not differ much from Federalist policy, which has often been seen as more sympathetic to Haiti. Chapters covering the period of Jefferson's presidency repeatedly demonstrate that, unlike many other Americans, he did not seem particularly shocked or concerned by the Haitian Revolution or the actions taken by its leaders. For example, in a long chapter dedicated to an obscure 1802 incident in which a French shipload of Haitian rebel prisoners of war landed in New York, Scherr writes, “Although it seems amazing to us, President Jefferson, potentially presented with a great West Indian rebel escape and a likely slave revolt in the streets of New York and Charleston, was more solicitous about injuring the French chargé's feelings” (p. 294). Similarly, in a later chapter, he argues that Jefferson wanted L'Ouverture to succeed in order to “facilitate [Jefferson's] purchase of Louisiana from a chastened Napoleon” (p. 348).