1846-August-10: As American interest in maritime expansion grew, the U.S.

1846-August-10: As American interest in maritime expansion grew, the U.S. Congress passed legislation providing the first funds for a naval academy, reflecting a broader effort to professionalize the Navy for global strategic missions. During this period, American naval planners began to eye the Caribbean with renewed intensity, specifically seeking potential locations for naval bases to protect future Isthmian canal routes. While the U.S. still refused to recognize the Haitian government, it increasingly viewed Haitian territory—specifically the Môle Saint-Nicolas and Samaná Bay—as vital strategic assets. This period marked the beginning of a “base-seeking” phase in American-Haitian relations that would persist for the rest of the century.