1811 (The Social Pact as a Bulwark against Enemies): King Henry Christophe and his advisors framed the new “social pact” as a vital defense against “cruel an…
1811 (The Social Pact as a Bulwark against Enemies): King Henry Christophe and his advisors framed the new “social pact” as a vital defense against “cruel and inveterate enemies” who sought to re-enslave the nation. The Council of State asserted that without a strong, unified government, the state would remain a “picture of chaos and general disorder” vulnerable to foreign conspiracies. They presented the King as the “great man” who perceived the necessity of this pact to unite all Haytians for whom the name of country was not an empty sound. By centralizing authority, the government aimed to close the door on the “inflammatory expressions” of demagogues that had previously fueled internal revolts. The new laws were thus depicted as the essential “cement of union” for the Haytian race.