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Haitiportal |
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]
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]
The American military government issued orders to arrest anyone publicly opposing adoption of the constitution. [2]
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
For | 98,294 | 99.22 | |
Against | 769 | 0.78 | |
Total | 99,063 | 100.00 | |
Source: Nohlen |
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