Roger Farnham's Influence on United States Policy Towards Haiti
Roger Farnham played a crucial role in the United States' decision to intervene in Haiti. As a journalist, lobbyist, and vice president of the National City Bank, Farnham had considerable sway over US Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan. Farnham's advocacy for American oversight of Haitian customs and financial operations, along with his strategic position, led to the US government's support for intervention. In 1914, Farnham's influence was instrumental in the decision to deploy US Marines to transfer a significant amount of gold from Haiti's National Bank to the National City Bank, ostensibly for safekeeping.The Commencement of the United States Occupation of Haiti (1915-1934)
The assassination of Haitian President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam in July 1915 provided the United States with a pretext to begin a full-scale occupation. Secretary Bryan and President Woodrow Wilson directed an invasion by 300 Marines, who encountered little resistance. The United States supported Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave as Haiti's new president over the insurgent Rosalvo Bobo, ensuring a more amenable administration. During the occupation, the United States took direct control over Haiti's customs, banking, and treasury operations, with a significant portion of the Haitian government's revenue being allocated to repaying debts to American and French creditors.Administration and Opposition During the Occupation
The United States occupation authorities exerted considerable influence over Haiti's economy and infrastructure development, with the State Department and the US Navy playing central roles. A treaty ratified in 1915, which was intended to last for ten years but was extended to twenty, cemented US authority in Haiti. When the Haitian legislature rejected a US-drafted constitution in 1917, Dartiguenave, with the support of US Marines, dissolved the Senate, and a revised constitution was subsequently ratified. The occupation also faced armed resistance, most notably from the Caco rebels, which led to two significant campaigns to quell their uprisings.The Gendarmerie and the Corvée Labor System
One of the initial measures of the US occupation was to disband the existing Haitian military and establish the Gendarmerie, a paramilitary police force commanded by American officers. The Gendarmerie's duties included maintaining order and implementing the Corvée labor system, which mandated Haitian peasants to work on public infrastructure projects. This system, along with the Gendarmerie's role in suppressing dissent, fostered widespread resentment among the Haitian people.The Decline of the Occupation and the United States Withdrawal
By the 1920s, resistance to the occupation had intensified, leading to events such as the Les Cayes Massacre, where US Marines killed several Haitian demonstrators. This incident attracted international condemnation and led to the establishment of the Forbes Commission by President Herbert Hoover, which recommended reforms. Subsequent elections in Haiti brought a nationalist government to power that negotiated the terms for the withdrawal of US forces, culminating in the end of the occupation in 1934.The Enduring Impact and Legacy of the United States Occupation
The United States occupation of Haiti left a deep and enduring impact on the country. While the occupation led to the development of some infrastructure, it often relied on forced labor and did not result in significant economic benefits for the majority of Haitians. American corporations gained a dominant position in Haiti's export economy, and the country continued to struggle under the weight of debt. The occupation also resulted in numerous Haitian casualties, both through direct conflict and oppressive labor conditions. The legacy of the occupation has continued to shape Haiti's path of poverty and political instability well beyond the departure of US forces.