During the Missouri crisis, The Enquirer publicized the attempts of Haiti’s leaders to strengthen their emerging nation by offering black immigrants land and free passage. Instead of being appalled by Haitian President Boyer’s invasion and annexation of Santo Domingo (today’s Dominican Republic) in 1822, he endorsed it. The Enquirer thought that France’s demand for an indemnity from Haiti was extortionate. The emancipated slaves of Santo Domingo became enthusiastic supporters of Boyer. New York City’s evolving cultural scene mirrored the Enquirer’s optimistic view of Haiti. In 1822, William Brown, a black theatre manager probably born in Haiti, wrote and produced the first African American dramatic production in the United States, Shotaway, a paean to the Haitian Revolution.