1822-May-01: Denmark Vesey’s plot for an insurrection of the enslaved was discovered in Charleston, South Carolina, sending a shockwave of fear through the A…

1822-May-01: Denmark Vesey’s plot for an insurrection of the enslaved was discovered in Charleston, South Carolina, sending a shockwave of fear through the American South and ending most serious talk of recognizing Haiti. The conspiracy was widely believed to have been inspired by the success of the Haitian Revolution, reinforcing the “spectre” of black independence. Southern statesmen argued that the arrival of a black Haitian minister in Washington would provide a dangerous example to enslaved populations across the United States. This event solidified the Southern political bloc’s opposition to any formal diplomatic ties with the island republic. The “internal security” of the slave system once again overrode the commercial and strategic arguments for normalizing relations.