THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE

1802-1804

Recap

Toussaint captured Capture caused worry and confusion

Deal between French and Rebel leadersDessalines, Christophe, Petion

Maroons continue to fight in the mountains

Colony returning to normalcy Blacks return to plantations

Leclerc and the resistance Leclerc was Napoleon’s brother in law Arrived with 10,000 troops

Including Rigaud, Petion, Boyer Violent methods to subdue rebels Campaign of “terror” Yellow fever

Plaguing French troops

Disarming the Rebels

Dessalines, Christophe with the French Leclerc seeks to disarm the black rebels Leclerc breaks with Mulatto leaders after

Crete-a-Pierrot Maroons keep fighting

North Sans-Souci West- Lafortune South Janvier Thomas

Dessalines and Belair Charles Belair-nephew of Toussaint

Was politically like Toussaint Saved many whites

Belair realized that the uncoordinated efforts of the rebels would not lead to victory

Joined the fight and proclaimed himself governor in chief of the rebels

Dessalines saw Belair as a threat to his power Had him arrested and executed October 15, 1802

The coming of a unified resistance Leclerc

Not trusted by Christophe, Dessalines Slavery restored to French colonies in

July 1802Rebels questioned whether or not they would

be returned to slavery Leclerc calls for additional troops Clairveaux- Mulattos worried about return to

the racism of old Tactics of French united all sides

Mulattoes and Blacks Dessalines comes to an accord with Petion

August 1802 October 11, 1802

Petion and Clairveaux attack Le Cap October 14, 1802 Christophe joins fight October 17,1802 Dessalines heads out to Petite

Riviere. Tells supporters to be ready to start another uprising Avoids capture In command of rebel forces.

North and the West in rebellion, Southern Mulattoes stay with French.

Leclerc and his forces

Leclerc sick with yellow fever 34,000 troops sent by France

24,000 dead from fighting or yellow fever. 8000 in hospitals 2000 fighting November 2,1802 Leclerc dies of Yellow

fever. Rochambeau takes command

Receives 20,000 new troops from France

Rochambeau

Leads war against Blacks and Mulattoes Race war. Whites vs People of colorPort Republican

War crimesDrowned people in the bay of Le Cap Violences of slavery return. Dogs….

Rochambeau’s Letter to French Directory “If France wishes to retain San

Domingue it must sent 25,000 troops in order to kill 30,000 nergoes and negresses.

The French position

Whites preferred to live under Toussaint, but reluctantly joined French b/c of whiteness

As Rochambeau ran out of money he levied taxes on the whites who rebelled against him.

Blacks were thought not to be fighting for independence since they were fighting under French Flag

Women in the fight While most of the writing on the Haitian

revolution is about men, women fought too for their liberty. Women were maroonsMarie Jeanne Lamarthinere famous woman soldier Gran Toyat- Victoria Montou Dessalines aunt.

○ Taught him how to throw a knife and fight. Marissainte Dédé Brazil- Defile

○ Followed Dessaline’s army throughout the fight for independence

○ Gathered his remains after his death

More women

Claire Heureuse- Dessaline’s wife gathered women to help aid injured soldiers on the battlefield

Catherine Flon- Sewed the first Haitian flag

Sanite, Charles Belair’s wife fought alongside her husband

Lead uprising of slaves in Artibonite Vive la libete anba esklavaj

1803, The Final Push

Petion unites mulatto leaders behind Dessalines

Geffrard established Dessalines’ authority in the South January 1803

Unified effort in North, West and South pushed the French into coastal towns.

War in Europe recommenced, British ships created a blockade of Haiti cutting off Rochambeau from reinforcements and supplies from France

Guerilla warfare

By Boat Rebels used small boats that traveled

around the coast and on rivers They landed, hid ships and attacked French

troops , took supplies and killed prisoners. Captured two French ships that had

escaped the blockade and killed all people on board

Dessalines: Koupe tet boule kay.

Dessalines born 1758 When did he join the fight?

Some say he was with Boukman at the beginning of the struggle

He might have been with Jeannot and then Biassou

By the time Toussaint went to the French Dessalines was with him.

Vicious attack on mulattoes in the civil war and Vicious against whites

The Fight Continues May 18,1803-Archaie

Dessalines and Petion call meeting of senior officers.

Newly created flag was the French flag with out the white.

Haitians had control of Anse-a Veau, Jacmel, Saint Marc, and Cayes Geffrard in command

Petion and Gabart in command of Artibonite October 1, French surrender P-a-P

The Final Battle

November 16 1803, Concerted efforts on Le Cap.Dessalines camp, 27,000 fighters strong sets

up camp at Limbe Cap defended by forts

Dessalines ordered Christophe to attack them Clairveaux, Capois La Mort- attack Butte

Charrier-Horse story Rochambeau

Move on to capture Vertiers

End of Fighting

November 28, 1803- Rochambeau surrenders troops to British

November 29- Dessalines issued initial proclamation of independence

French surrender Mole St. Nicolas in December

64,000 French troops sent, few remained.

Independence

December 31,1803Dessalines called general meeting at

GonaivesIssued declaration of independence

January 1st 1804 Haiti is officially an independent country

Generals and chiefs of the army declare Dessalines supreme leader of the Haiti Commander in Chief