What Were the Effects of the Haitian Revolution?
The Haitian Revolution established the country of Haiti, ended French designs on the New World and led to a racial panic in the United States. Haiti became the first successful slave uprising in the Americas. This new republic, however, was not welcomed into the community of nations because of international fears of other slave uprisings.
The United States, Haiti’s near neighbor, refused to recognize the new country. Although Thomas Jefferson, the president at the time, had written eloquently about freedom and liberty, he knew that recognizing the new nation would stir up opposition from slave owners in the United States. He also worried that the rebellion would inspire similar uprisings closer to home. One such uprising did take place. The German Coast Uprising of 1811 that took place in Louisiana was inspired by the Haitian Revolution and possibly even led by former Haitians. Though successfully put down, it frightened American slave owners, leading to harsher treatment and closer control over slave life.
The Haitian Revolution also led to the Louisiana Purchase. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson bought land from France that extended from Louisiana to Montana, doubling the size of the United States overnight. This led to more states, increasing sectionalist tension between slave states and states in the north that were transitioning away from slavery. This tension persisted until the Civil War.
