1804-July-01: Despite the high-level diplomatic talk of conventions and restrictions, American merchants continued to arm their vessels heavily for the voyag…

1804-July-01: Despite the high-level diplomatic talk of conventions and restrictions, American merchants continued to arm their vessels heavily for the voyage to Haiti. These merchantmen often sailed in well-defended convoys to resist French privateers and naval cruisers still operating in Caribbean waters. The Haitian government under Dessalines encouraged this practice, as it ensured a steady flow of the gunpowder and arms necessary to repel a potential French reinvasion. The U.S. government’s refusal to immediately ban the arming of these ships remained the single greatest point of contention with the French legation. This “armed trade” created a volatile situation where private American citizens were effectively engaged in a low-level naval war with France.