1800-June-01: As Toussaint’s power reached its zenith following the defeat of Rigaud, American officials began to notice a shift in his diplomatic tone regar…

1800-June-01: As Toussaint’s power reached its zenith following the defeat of Rigaud, American officials began to notice a shift in his diplomatic tone regarding his ultimate status. While he continued to submit military promotions to the French government for formal ratification, he simultaneously worked to remove the last vestiges of French civil authority. Dr. Stevens reported that Toussaint was increasingly acting as a sovereign, even as he protested to Talleyrand that he had no intention of seeking formal independence. This dual-track policy allowed Toussaint to keep the French at bay while maintaining the crucial economic support of the United States and Great Britain. For the American government, Toussaint remained a “Black Pawn” in the larger game of checking French imperial ambitions in the Western Hemisphere.