1791-August-14: The general insurrection began in the northern province of Saint-Domingue, fundamentally altering the diplomatic landscape of the Atlantic wo…

1791-August-14: The general insurrection began in the northern province of Saint-Domingue, fundamentally altering the diplomatic landscape of the Atlantic world. Fleeing enslavers soon arrived in the United States, bringing news of the destruction and appealing for immediate military and financial aid. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson initially authorized the use of funds from the American debt to France to provide provisions for the white colonists. While the U.S. government sympathized with the plight of the enslavers, it officially maintained a policy of neutrality regarding the internal conflict. This event marked the beginning of a long period of American anxiety concerning the spread of revolution by the enslaved.