1791-November-14: Thomas Jefferson warned Ternant that if France were to lose control of Saint-Domingue, the most likely outcome would be a British monopoly …

1791-November-14: Thomas Jefferson warned Ternant that if France were to lose control of Saint-Domingue, the most likely outcome would be a British monopoly of the island’s trade. Jefferson emphasized that the United States was “doubly desirous” of helping France maintain its sovereignty to prevent Great Britain from further dominating the Atlantic economy. Despite his personal sympathies for the French Revolution, Jefferson’s policy was dictated by the pragmatic need to maintain a balance of power in the Caribbean. He recognized that a British-occupied Saint-Domingue would be a far greater threat to American commercial interests than a French one. This strategic concern ensured that the United States remained a consistent, albeit cautious, ally of the French colonial authorities during the early years of the Haitian Revolution.