1918 Haitian constitutional referendum
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Haiti portal |
A constitutional referendum was held in Haiti on 12 June 1918.[1] Voters were asked to approve or reject a new constitution, which was imposed by the United States government.[2] It was approved by 99% of voters,[3] although less than 5% of the population voted.[2]
Background
[edit]Haiti was occupied by the United States in 1915. Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt claimed to have drafted a new constitution, which introduced direct election of the Senate, freedom of assembly and the press, and trial by jury.[2] Controversially it initially included a right for non-citizens to own land,[2] and for the American military to intervene in domestic politics.[4]
The National Assembly elected in 1917 refused to adopt the draft constitution and drafted one itself,[2] which excluded the right of non-citizens to own land.[4] While the Assembly was debating its draft, Major Smedley Butler interrupted the session to announce that President Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave had dissolved the legislature,[2] after he forced Dartiguenave to sign a decree to that effect.[4] As there was no legislature in place to adopt the document, it was decided to hold a referendum.[2]
Campaign
[edit]The American military government issued orders to arrest anyone publicly opposing adoption of the constitution.[2]
Results
[edit]Choice | Votes | % | |
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For | 98,294 | 99.22 | |
Against | 769 | 0.78 | |
Total | 99,063 | 100.00 | |
Source: Nohlen |
References
[edit]- ^ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p381 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
- ^ a b c d e f g h George Athan Billias (2011) American Constitutionalism Heard Round the World, 1776–1989: A Global Perspective, pp242–244
- ^ Nohlen, p387
- ^ a b c Michael Largey (2006) Vodou Nation: Haitian Art Music and Cultural Nationalism, p55