1806-February-14: President Jefferson wrote to John Armstrong, the American Minister to France, explicitly stating that the law prohibiting intercourse with …

1806-February-14: President Jefferson wrote to John Armstrong, the American Minister to France, explicitly stating that the law prohibiting intercourse with Saint-Domingue was a powerful diplomatic tool. He listed the trade ban as one of several “inducements” meant to secure Napoleon’s cooperation in the acquisition of the Floridas from Spain. This admission confirmed that the legislative crackdown on Haiti was not merely a reaction to French protests but a calculated move in American territorial expansion. By cutting off the “rebellious” island, Jefferson aimed to demonstrate American reliability to the French Emperor. This strategy effectively traded the economic lifeblood of the first black republic for a chance at Southern territorial growth.