Don't know much about it. So I am creating this thread to learn more about it. Some of what I am quoting is from wiki and other sources. I am not sure how accurate they are. Of course I could read the wiki page and call it a day but we have such a spring of knowledge here I thought I'd start a thread.
The first one: The United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915, when 330 US Marines landed at Port-au-Prince on the authority of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to safeguard the interests of U.S. corporations.
Questions: What led to this action? What are the interests of U.S. corporations that were at risk?
At the time elsewhere "World War I was already into its second year and Washington was extremely sensitive about possible European intrusions into the Caribbean. British, French and German warships had, in fact, already landed their forces in 1914."
The other name for this occupation was under the guise of restoring peace.
Only reason why the USA started to invest in Haiti ; is because they were uncomfortable with the German elite in Haiti holding such a big peice of the pie in Haiti.
Evidently German nationals controlled 80% of the country's international commerce, owned and operated utilities in Cap Haitien and Port-au-Prince, the main wharf and a tramway in the capital, and owned a railroad serving the Plaine de Cul-du-Sac.
"The German community proved more willing to integrate into Haitian society than any other group of white foreigners, including the more numerous French. Some Germans married into the nation's most prominent mulatto families, thus bypassing the constitutional prohibition against foreign land-ownership. They also served as the principal financiers of the nation's innumerable revolutions, floating loans at high interest rates to competing political factions."
If someone has your money they own you.
"In an effort to limit German influence, in 1910–11 the State Department backed a consortium of American investors, assembled by the National City Bank of New York, in acquiring control of the Banque National d'Haïti, the nation's only commercial bank and the government treasury."
This occupation is also known as America's Black Vietnam. The Cacos vs. the Marines.
They were able to "completely overhaul the country's infrastructure but unable to dent the chaotic political culture which remains intact today".
"The were 11 "cacos," a large band of warlike ex-slaves that had established their own brand of "tribal" authority in the rugged and mountainous interior. Like the bird-of-prey with its red plume (wherein they derived their name) the cacos lived off the peasants and were recognized by a patch of red cloth worn on their sleeves."
I'd also like to talk about the individual cacos, but not yet.
"It must be explained that the cacos have been the controlling element in all revolutions; they were purchased by first one candidate and then another. Finishing a contract with one man, they, having put him in power, would immediately sell their services to the next aspirant to unseat the first."
The cacos had no military organization, no uniforms, no modern arm or supplies of their own, yet they fought the marines in guerrilla war from the first day of the intervention in 1915. They eventually lost, but not until 1922, not until they had succeeded in challenging the right of the U.S. to govern Haiti itself, and not until their stubborn resistance had voiced its protests right up to the halls of the U.S. Congress and to the White House. "
Within the span of the first USA Hostile Occupation there were many Caco Revolts.
Jean Conze (Haiti's Black Judas), a wealthy Haitian who fooled the entire populace into believing that he was converted to the revolutionary cause, conspired with the Americans to kill Charlemagne. He is not our first traitor (we'll talk about Haitian traitors in another thread).
For a country who's populace is covered under freedom of speech, the USA loves to put the hand over the mouth.
"Haitian newspapers often attacked the U.S. openly in their editorials. In response, the United States slammed a tight censorship over these offenders, under conditions of martial law, that effectively ended the public disclosures of internal political opposition. U.S. censorship, for a time, was also extended to include telegram and postal correspondence."
Eventually word got around to the citizens of the USA: "Much of the opposition to U.S. methods in Haiti centered on atrocities committed by the marines and gendamerie against Haitian peasants. Despite the military's censorship, word still leaked out."
"While the Senate report admitted that a number of such incidents had occurred in Haiti, the Marine Corps was officially exonerated, while overall U.S. occupation policies were instructed to become more efficient and coordinated and more "sensitive" to the needs of the Haitian society."
"The United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915"
That is not completely accurate......an occupation is different from invasion. The U.S. occupation actually was sanctioned and given access by President Dartiguenave, the senators and deputies at the time, and other players. The U.S. occupation began in Haiti on May 3rd, 1916 when the U.S. senate approved it.
The agreement was for the U.S. to maintain order in the country by controlling the national finances, direct the Haitian Army, Public Health, and Public works.
It was signed for a 10 year occupation only....on March 28, 1917 it was extended
It was not a forced occupation......the haitian leaders agreed for it to happen.
"The United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915"
That is not completely accurate......an occupation is different from invasion. The U.S. occupation actually was sanctioned and given access by President Dartiguenave, the senators and deputies at the time, and other players. The U.S. occupation began in Haiti on May 3rd, 1916 when the U.S. senate approved it.
The agreement was for the U.S. to maintain order in the country by controlling the national finances, direct the Haitian Army, Public Health, and Public works.
It was signed for a 10 year occupation only....on March 28, 1917 it was extended
It was not a forced occupation......the haitian leaders agreed for it to happen.
"The United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915"
That is not completely accurate......an occupation is different from invasion. The U.S. occupation actually was sanctioned and given access by President Dartiguenave, the senators and deputies at the time, and other players. The U.S. occupation began in Haiti on May 3rd, 1916 when the U.S. senate approved it.The agreement was for the U.S. to maintain order in the country by controlling the national finances, direct the Haitian Army, Public Health, and Public works.
It was signed for a 10 year occupation only....on March 28, 1917 it was extended
It was not a forced occupation......the haitian leaders agreed for it to happen.
Skinz, when did the marines land and take control????
How is agreeing to something after forces have landed not a forced occupation????
President Dartiguenave was deemed a "Client President" rather than puppet. In other words, he was there to simply receive the services the treaty asked for. He wasn't a puppet because the U.S. was not giving him orders......in fact, he went against the marine officers stationed in Haiti and complained to the higher ups in the U.S. numerous time on their conduct. He was ultimately disliked by them and left on his own to scare him into obedience. Here he is standing to the occupiers.....
fantasma - 20 March 2012 09:15 AM
Questions: What led to this action? What are the interests of U.S. corporations that were at risk?
There were no U.S. corporations in Haiti.......The U.S. only had 2 investments in Haiti at the time: Shares with the Railroad constructions and Shares in Haiti's National Bank.
The U.S. interest was to eliminate Germany and France influence in the National Bank, obtain complete control of the bank, and make it a branch of the American bank along with controlling Haiti Custom Houses. The U.S. feared that Haiti out of control politics would destroy its finance and make it easy for Germany and France to swoop in and the Haitian politicians would sell the country (especially Mole St Nicolas) by any means to repay debts or sell anything to win local political matches......The Monroe doctrine would have none of that.
Then the President Sam incident happened.....The President ran into the French Legation for safety...the Haitian mass didn't give a damn and busted in.....dragged the president out and killed him......and the French Minister called for help for ships nearby.
Skinz, when did the marines land and take control????
How is agreeing to something after forces have landed not a forced occupation????
Please elaborate.
The U.S.S Washington landed on July 28, 1915......with 330 sailors and marines. 330 sailors and marines were not a force......There was no gun diplomacy being done.
Skinz, when did the marines land and take control????
How is agreeing to something after forces have landed not a forced occupation????
Please elaborate.
The U.S.S Washington landed on July 28, 1915......with 330 sailors and marines. 330 sailors and marines were not a force......There was no gun diplomacy being done.
It was strong enough to do make an impact, but the USA conceded they should've sent more soldiers later on.
O.K. Before this goes left field and become an thread dedicated on what is a forced occupation or not......I shall stop it here....I've been here too long to see the signs
I am wrong....it was a forced occupation. My mistake.....It was forced.....JC and Fantasma is correct.
Jean Conze (Haiti's Black Judas), a wealthy Haitian who fooled the entire populace into believing that he was converted to the revolutionary cause, conspired with the Americans to kill Charlemagne. He is not our first traitor
O.K. Before this goes left field and become an thread dedicated on what is a forced occupation or not......I shall stop it here....I've been here too long to see the signs
I am wrong....it was a forced occupation. My mistake.....It was forced.....JC and Fantasma is correct.
Wise decision Skinz. Of course it would have been more entertaining and informative if you had chosen to explain your original point.
Wise decision Skinz. Of course it would have been more entertaining and informative if you had chosen to explain your original point.
Oh well...our loss.
A loss for the better.......I shall not be tempted this time. I've been working on that part of my addiction for a while.......now if I can stop jumping every time I see a history topic I would be on my way.
Wise decision Skinz. Of course it would have been more entertaining and informative if you had chosen to explain your original point.
Oh well...our loss.
A loss for the better.......I shall not be tempted this time. I've been working on that part of my addiction for a while.......now if I can stop jumping every time I see a history topic I would be on my way.
From what I read; he was recruited by Sergeant H. H. Hanneken (USMC); infiltrated the cacos learned who Charlemagne was pointed him out and he was killed.
"As the weary campaign dragged on, the murder of Charlemagne was accomplished by Sergeant H. H. Hanneken (USMC) in an adventure which must rank as one of the greatest deceptions in the history of warfare. In a planned series of moves that, sixty years later, still seems incredulous, Hanneken succeeded in planting a Haitian spy into Charlemagne's ranks. Jean Conze, a wealthy Haitian who fooled the entire populace into believing that he was converted to the revolutionary cause, conspired with the Americans to kill Charlemagne.
Hanneken and Conze went so far as to simulate a mock battle be tween gendarmes and Conze's men, a planned "defeat" of the gendarmes which further convinced all of Haiti that Conze was a committed rebel. Sergeant Hanneken, feigning a wounded arm supposedly injured in the "battle," publicly travelled through Haiti for the next several weeks with a sling deliberately stained by red ink taken from a field desk. On the night of October 30, Conze provided Hanneken with details on Charlemagne's whereabouts. With sixteen hand picked gendarmes, Hanneken and his second in command, Corporal William R. Button (USMC) , went through six caco outposts undetected. They were inspected by flashlight at each point, but incredibly enough, they were able to disguise their skin by the use of black cork coloring. They made it through each outpost undetected, white men "dressed" in caco skin.
When they arrived at the main rebel base, Conze silently pointed out Charlemagne hovering near the light of a small campfire. The American pumped two .45 caliber slugs into the betrayed leader, killing him instantly. The bodyguard was instantly felled by automatic rifle fire. The next morning, the marines returned with the body of Charlemagne slung over one of his own mules, done in by the stupidity of his own men and by the treachery of Jean Conze, Haiti's black "Judas." "
I need help. 
