We Owe Haiti a Debt We Can’t Repay

Haitians carried out the first and only successful slave revolt in modern history, then repelled Napoleon's forces, making way for the Louisiana Purchase.

Napoleon, as part of his plan to re-establish the French empire in the Caribbean, was hoping to use the territory of Louisiana as a supply station for the island colonies. Once the Haitians had shattered his dream, Napoleon saw no reason to hold on to the territory. He was eager to sell it, and President Jefferson was equally eager to buy. The purchase doubled the size of the United States, which obtained 530 million acres for $15 million. If not for the French defeat at the hands of the Haitians, the sale may not have come off, leaving the United States possibly forever divided by a huge swath of French-controlled land or forced into armed conflict with the French over it.

Don’t know much about that history so that was interesting to read about. Thanks David.

(07-23-2021 07:45 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Don’t know much about that history so that was interesting to read about. Thanks David.

At one time, Haiti was an economic empire; things have changed.