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 NavyFranklin 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]
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