1918 Haitian constitutional referendum explained

Date:12 June 1918
Country:Haiti
Flag Year:1859
Yes:98294
No:769

A constitutional referendum was held in Haiti on 12 June 1918.[1] Voters were asked to approve or reject a new constitution, which was imposed by the United States government.[2] It was approved by 99% of voters,[3] although less than 5% of the population voted.[2]

Background

Haiti was occupied by the United States in 1915. Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt claimed to have drafted a new constitution, which introduced direct election of the Senate, freedom of assembly and the press, and trial by jury.[2] Controversially it initially included a right for non-citizens to own land,[2] and for the American military to intervene in domestic politics.

The National Assembly elected in 1917 refused to adopt the draft constitution and drafted one itself,[2] which excluded the right of non-citizens to own land.[4] While the Assembly was debating its draft, Major Smedley Butler interrupted the session to announce that President Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave had dissolved the legislature,[2] after he forced Dartiguenave to sign a decree to that effect.[4] As there was no legislature in place to adopt the document, it was decided to hold a referendum.[2]

Campaign

The American military government issued orders to arrest anyone publicly opposing adoption of the constitution.[2]

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]
  2. George Athan Billias (2011) American Constitutionalism Heard Round the World, 1776–1989: A Global Perspective, pp242–244
  3. Nohlen, p387
  4. Michael Largey (2006) Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music and Cultural Nationalism, p55