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importantly, Bassett’s work as a politically appointed diplomat forever altered U.S. foreign policy. For the first time, a nation founded on the principle that “all men are created equal” would have as its representative abroad someone who had previously been less than equal under the law. This movement toward equality and democratization of foreign policy would neither be quick, nor perfect. However it proved to be a force impossible to turn back, and carried implications for both domestic and international relations in the years ahead, including the wider acceptance of blacks in U.S. foreign policy.
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407:. A new era is open to us. For generations we have suffered under the horrors of slavery, outrage, and wrong; our manhood has been denied, our citizenship blotted out, our souls seared and burned, our spirits cowed and crushed, and the hopes of the future of our race involved in doubts and darkness. But how the whole aspect of our relations to the white race is changed! Now, therefore, is our most precious moment. Let us rush to arms! Fail now, and our race is doomed on this soil of our birth.
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its independence from France in 1804, it was not officially recognized by the United States until 1862. Southern resistance to a former colony governed by ex-slaves becoming a "nation" had prevented the United States from recognizing the country. With the Union victory in the Civil War, the US government wanted to improve bilateral relations, and believed the appointment of
Bassett was a significant step, not only for his skills but for the symbolism of his appointment.
456:, however, Bassett found that Haiti was torn by civil war. Although with no international experience, as a representative of the US, the Minister Resident was one of the most powerful figures in the country. Bassett soon realized that much of diplomacy involved intangibles. Soon after his arrival, he wrote to Frederick Douglass that his duties were "not so onerous as delicate. Common sense and some little knowledge of law…will carry me through."
318:, Ebenezer D. Bassett was from a community that had a strong tradition of owning their own property, running their own businesses, and playing important leadership roles. Among this community, the Bassetts stood out as astute and prominent. Bassett's father Eben Tobias, as well as his grandfather Tobiah, had the distinction of being elected "Black Governor" in Connecticut, an unofficial honorific among the black community.
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Basset was highly respected within the academic communities of the North. He attended educational meetings and advised abolitionists on matters of education. In New Haven
Connecticut August 1865, a meeting was held by The American Institute to address the issue of freedman and education. Speeches
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As a refugee, Canal had been essentially held captive by the government threat for more than five months. After Canal's departure, Bassett telegrammed the
Department of State informing them that the crisis had finally passed: "Refugees amicably embarked and soldiers withdrawn from around my premises
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In nominating
Bassett to become Minister Resident to Haiti (the title Ambassador would not be used by the U.S. until 1893), Grant appointed him as one of the highest-ranking blacks in the U.S. government. Bassett's accreditation to the "Black Republic" was no accident either. Though Haiti had gained
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Upon the end of the Grant
Administration in 1877, Bassett submitted his resignation as was customary with a change of hands in government. In spite of any lingering resentment that may have existed in Washington because of his defiant stance, it was impossible for the Department not to recognize
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Ebenezer D. Bassett was a role model not simply for his symbolic importance as the first
African American diplomat. His concern for human rights, his heroism, and courage in the face of threats from Haitians as well as his own capital place him in the annals of great American diplomats. Most
693:"Addresses of the Hon. W. D. Kelley, Miss Anna E. Dickinson, and Mr. Frederick Douglass, at a mass meeting, held at National Hall, Philadelphia, July 6, 1863, for the promotion of colored enlistments." Philadelphia, PA, 1863, African American Pamphlet Collection (Library of Congress).
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Yale
College administrator, Rev. M.E. Strieby D.D. secretary American Missionary Association of New York. Ebenezer Basset attended the meeting and urged the need for more African American educators in the freed states, he felt freedman would have more confidence in their teachers.
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Ebenezer
Bassett also became one of Philadelphia's leading voices for abolition of slavery and emancipation of the nearly four million enslaved Blacks. Bassett used ICY as a base to recruit Blacks to serve in the Union Army. He hastened to invite many of the national
515:, he nonetheless stood up to both the Secretary of State and the brutal Domingue dictatorship. By demanding humane treatment for an honorable Haitian citizen, Ebenezer Bassett served not only the best interests of the United States, but also of the people of Haiti.
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Both
Bassett's parents ensured that their son would receive the best education possible. In a step rare for any students of the mid-19th century, Bassett attended college in his home state. In 1853 he was the first black student to attend the Connecticut
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Men of Color, to Arms! Now or Never! This is our golden moment. The
Government of the United States calls for every able-bodied colored man to enter the army for the three years' service, and join in fighting the battles of liberty and
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during your term of office. This commendation of your services is the more especially merited because at various times your duties have been of such a delicate nature as to have required the exercise of much tact and
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I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing to you the appreciation of the Department for the very satisfactory manner in which you have discharged your duties of the mission at
394:, Bassett and other Black leaders organized a recruiting drive for Black soldiers. Bassett had the honor of being the second speaker of the night, making his speech immediately preceding
647:"Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1875, Volume II - Office of the Historian"
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in the mid-1870s, Canal had retired to his home outside the capital. The new Haitian President, however, suspicious of rivals, hunted down perceived threats, including Canal.
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was elected to the presidency, he looked for Black leaders such as Bassett to fill important political positions. Douglass recommended Bassett to political allies in the
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Canal and two young relatives arrived at Bassett's home, seeking protection and refuge. The diplomat agreed to protect them under his diplomatic immunity.
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Unfortunately, unlike his peers who broke the color barrier in other professional fields, Ebenezer Bassett was soon forgotten with the passing of time.
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Hayti and Santo Domingo, Fish to Bassett, September 7, 1875, File 77, roll 96, Diplomatic Instruction of the Department of State, National Archives.
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When he returned to the United States, he spent an additional ten years as the Consul General for Haiti in New York City. Prior to his death in
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Teal, Christopher. Hero of Hispaniola – America's First Black Diplomat, Ebenezer D. Bassett, Westport, Conn: Praeger Publishers, 2008
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Simmons, William J., and Henry McNeal Turner. Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. GM Rewell & Company, 1887. p872-877
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Hayti, Evarts to Bassett, October 5, 1877, File 77, roll 96, Diplomatic Instruction of the Department of State, National Archives.
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there, Bassett served in one of the most crucial, but difficult postings of his time. Haiti was of strategic importance in the
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Bassett to Douglass, July 3, 1869, Series: General Correspondence 1869, The Frederick Douglass Papers, Library of Congress.
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diplomat and the fourth U.S. ambassador to Haiti since the two countries established relations in 1862. His mother was
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The Annals of the American Institute of Instruction Being a Record of Its Doings for 54 Years, from 1830 Till 1883
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His remaining years as an educator and activist would cement his position in the abolitionist community. When
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Hayti, Bassett to Fish, October 12, 1875, M 82, roll 8, Department of State Despatches, National Archives.
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School Records for Ebenezer D. Bassett, Central Connecticut State University Library, Special Collections.
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Hayti, Bassett to Fish, October 5, 1875, M 82, roll 8, Department of State Despatches, National Archives.
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493:. The general was among the band of young leaders who in 1869 successfully ousted the former President
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Hayti, Bassett to Fish, June 8, 1875, M 82, roll 8, Department of State Despatches, National Archives.
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Hayti, Bassett to Fish, May 19, 1875, M 82, roll 8, Department of State Despatches, National Archives.
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Hayti, Bassett to Fish, May 8, 1875, M 82, roll 8, Department of State Despatches, National Archives.
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Hayti, Bassett to Fish, May 8, 1875, M 82, roll 7, Department of State Despatches, National Archives.
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Ebenezer Bassett was appointed as new leaders emerged among free African Americans after the
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Though he undoubtedly paid a price by having irritated the powers that ran the
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1863 Broadside listing Bassett as a speaker calling men of color to arms.
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Hero of Hispaniola - America's First Black Diplomat, Ebenezer D. Bassett
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for consular and commercial agents, and aid to citizens affected by
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The case that posed the greatest challenge to him, however, was
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Daily Ohio statesman Volume 13 Number 36 August 10, 1865 Page 3
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wrote to Bassett, thanking him for his years of service:
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leaders who had become colleagues. Just days after the
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from power. By the time of the subsequent regime of
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Bassett oversaw cases of citizen commercial claims,
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Reminiscences of School Life, and Hints on Teaching
282:, Bassett was the U.S. diplomatic envoy in 1869 to
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412:were made by prominent members of the community.
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256:. From 1857 to 1869 he was the principal of the
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374:, who would also become a diplomat, Smythe to
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330:). After graduation Bassett taught school in
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244:(October 16, 1833 – November 13, 1908) was
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69:Learn how and when to remove this message
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105:United States Minister Resident to Haiti
32:This article includes a list of general
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328:Central Connecticut State University
248:from 1869 to 1877. He was the first
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416:Bishop of Kentucky,
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205:Eliza Park (m. 1855)
150:John Mercer Langston
683:Teal, Christopher.
670:Teal, Christopher.
461:diplomatic immunity
672:Hero of Hispaniola
605:"Charles Northend"
546:Brooklyn, New York
396:Frederick Douglass
380:American Civil War
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316:Derby, Connecticut
288:Western Hemisphere
265:American Civil War
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145:Succeeded by
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535:discretion.
524:F.W. Seward
438:White House
133:Preceded by
51:introducing
1109:Categories
1004:Huddleston
656:2020-01-28
584:Eric Foner
567:References
540:Later life
465:hurricanes
310:Early life
219:Alma mater
171:1833-10-16
59:April 2014
34:references
1084:Stromayer
1030:Sanderson
997:Alexander
981:McManaway
793:Hollister
405:the Union
332:New Haven
306:station.
300:Caribbean
292:civil war
122:President
117:1869–1877
113:In office
1077:Kendrick
986:McKinley
971:Kimelman
941:Thurston
936:Newbegin
916:DeCourcy
818:Douglass
813:Thompson
808:Williams
803:Langston
489:General
424:Author,
314:Born in
280:activist
269:educator
210:Children
1045:Mulrean
946:Timmons
921:Travers
911:Tittman
875:Grummon
861:Merrell
838:Furniss
798:Bassett
783:Whidden
376:Liberia
304:coaling
47:improve
1070:Merten
1058:Diallo
1051:Shukan
1035:Merten
1020:Curran
1015:Carney
906:Wilson
891:Gordon
886:Armour
833:Powell
828:Smythe
823:Durham
275:, and
254:Pequot
202:Spouse
197:, U.S.
180:, U.S.
36:, but
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1040:White
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1010:Swing
991:Adams
976:Preeg
966:Jones
961:Isham
926:Davis
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896:Mayer
881:Munro
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843:Smith
368:Greek
364:Latin
326:(now
284:Haiti
267:. An
227:(now
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951:Ross
931:Drew
854:Dunn
788:Peck
633:2020
294:and
185:Died
165:Born
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471:.
440:.
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231:)
213:8
173:)
169:(
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66:(
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