Haitis Revolution and the Early American Republic - Essay Example

Under the Gun: Haiti and United s In the book Haitian history: new perspectives Brenda Gayle Plummer captures the American occupation in Haiti “under the gun”. It is an account of how the Americans moved to occupy Haiti and the resistance that ensured. The Americans were out to support a country torn by civil anarchy and unrest. Military occupation in my opinion is not providing support but just another case of imperialism. The present invasion of sovereign states by American seems to have begun a long time ago.

They create a problem where there is none and invade like it happened in Haiti. They created their president whom they could dictate who got rebelled, and they invaded. To counter resistance you need a few natives on your side. Even if it means buying them you have to do it. Americans collaborated with a native constabulary to try and restore the law and order that was lacking. The responsibility was given to the gendarmerie d’HaitiResistance should be expected anywhere where individuals feel infiltrated like the case of Haiti where the resurgence of cacoism was witnessed (Plummer 245).

In my view methods used by the American military should not be employed when solving a crisis. Shooting at protesters and anybody deemed a rebel is not a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The Americans continued their occupation in Haiti and they even paid spies for information. They continued their dominance by establishing absolute military control over the Haitians. People were oppressed, and only the good could be in the news riots and protests and killings all could be blacked out. Is it not the system in the modern world nowadays where there is censoring of information to the world?

The aspect seems to have evolved a long way.To help Haiti develop they build infrastructure and open up the state to investments foreign investors flocked in after all this was an opportunity the Americans had seen. They choose to commercialize agriculture. Plantation farms emerged that wanted to exploit the cheap labor of Haitians. Gayle explains the aggressive nature of the Americans in the process of occupying Haiti. It is evident from the way they could suppress strikes and protests using force, exploitation of cheap labor of Haitians and racial discrimination.

As much as the occupation was not accepted well I can say there was economic development in Haiti that was not there before. It may have served the interest of the Americans but at the end of the day it’s happened in Haiti. Conception of a revolutionary idea is not easy to contain. The Haitians rose against the Americans they organized countrywide protests and this news was not well received in Washington. There is power in the voice of the people and once people are tired with an idea there is no way to force it on them.

In times of crisis people usually form commissions to investigate the issue and come up with recommendations? As demonstrated by President Hoover, who created an inquiry to investigate Haitian education system after protests so are elsewhere. In my opinion, the agreement to eventually withdraw from the occupation when Roosevelt came into office was an excellent move. After all, each country is sovereign, and there shouldn’t be any interferenceWork CitedPlummer, Brenda G. Haiti and the United States: The Psychological Moment.

Athens:University of Georgia Press, 1992. Print.