Racism And American Foreign Policy

In 1791,a slave uprising broke out in Santo Domingo,a French colony in the Caribbean region of North America.The United States,which neighbors the Santo Domingo colony,has always had very close trade relations with the Santo Domingo colony.When the uprising broke out in Santo Domingo colony,the U.S.government adopted a neutral foreign policy,providing money and weapons to the white planters in France and relief to the colonists who fled to the United States.In order not to get caught in a spiral of dispute between the European powers,the basic policy of neutrality was inherited,but in order to protect the commercial interests in the Caribbean,the United States provided economic and military support and assistance to Toussaint’s Black government,and tend to support its independent cause.Since Jefferson become the President of the United States in 1801,a Democratic Republican who represented slave owners in a southern state,the U.S.government begun to shift foreign and economic policy toward Haiti.In order to cut diplomatic ties between the United States and the Santo Domingo colony,the U.S.government replaced a special envoy and recognized French authority over Santo Domingo colony.After Haiti declared its independence in 1804,the Jefferson administration did not recognize Haiti’s independence and self-government.In 1805,Congress enacted the Clearance Act aimed at prohibiting trade with Haiti.In 1806,Congress passed the Logan Act to severely limit American business with Haiti,it was not until 1810 that trade between the two countries returned to normal.There were many factors that influenced the foreign policy of the U.S.government to Haiti,but racism was the most important factor.First of all,white American believe that the black is physically,emotionally and intellectually inferior to the white,and that they are incapable of self-government.The black who under slavery situation,to be governed and ruled by the white races,which is the most suitable condition for their survival.The U.S.government did not recognize the independence of Haiti out of fear of its independence and self-government.Secondly,since the uprising broke out in Santo Domingo colony,the terrible race war between black people,colored people and white people happened continuously.The bloodthirsty and cruel behavior of black people brought great fear to the white people in the United States.The black slaves in the colony of Santo Domingo got rid of their slave status and gained freedom through uprising.For the white plantation owners in the south based on slavery,the black slaves in the southern states were very likely to follow the example of the black people in Santo Domingo.In the view of the white plantation owners which from Southern based on slavery,the black slaves in the Santo Domingo colony who rose up to freedom were an incendiary and dangerous behavior,because the black slaves in the South were likely to follow the example of the Santo Domingo blacks.In order to protect the security of the southern states and the rule of slavery,the Federalists,who represented the interests of the northern industrial and commercial owners,gave in to the Democratic Republicans,who represented the southern slave plantation economy.They passed the trade embargo law and cut off the economic ties with Haiti.The United States has always had a very strong ideological color,and the racist ideology has existed as early as the founding of the nation,and the racist ideology has played a very important role in the foreign decision-making process of the United States.Among them,the policy of the United States to Haiti is also strongly influenced by racial factors.However,the ultimate goal of the foreign policy made by the United States is to realize its own national interests.