The Haitian Revolution

A small island makes a big statement

Santo Domingo -- first settled by Spanish

Background

French controlled Most profitable colony in the world because of sugar and coffee plantations worked by African slaves

Population 90% African (free and slaves) -- free owned slaves

Seeds of Revolution

Enlightenment ideas reach Haiti; people want equality; slaves want freedom

Nat’l Assembly- 1791- laws regarding equality do not apply to colonies

Free blacks and slaves are fed up

The Revolution Begins - 1791 Slave uprising is joined by free blacks and mulattoes

Slaves seek vengeance -- burn plantations and kill whites (including women and children)

France sends troops

Early 1790’s - Period of Chaos

Battle for the Island Slave s cross to Spanish side of the Island to

regroup and Launch attack

British send troops to help Spain put down the slave revolt on their half of the Island

Slaves abandon Spain and re ally with the French to beat the British

End of Slavery?

1793 - Slavery abolished in Haiti

1794 - Slavery abolished in all French colonies

Problem: plantation owners do not agree

Toussaint L’Ouverture

Educated slave who joined revolt of 1791

Brilliant general -- defeats British forces in 1794

Demands total freedom for all slaves

Toussaint’s Successes

Drove out British and Spanish invaders

Gained admiration of French

Controlled most of the island by 1797

Wrote constitution that gave equality and citizenship to all in Haiti

Napoleon Wants a French Empire

Napoleon wants Haiti, 1802 sends army

L’Ouverture now fights for independence - believes Napoleon supports slavery

US sends $ and materials to weaken France

L’Ouverture kidnapped and dies in French prison

Dessalines helps defeat France -names Haiti independent in 1804

Independence at Last

Aftermath in Haiti

Haiti finally becomes a republic in 1820

Problem: most of economy was based on cash crops -- how to support new country?

Still a divide between previously free blacks and newly free slaves

Significance of the Revolution Second republic to be created by revolution

First place to have a successful slave revolt

First country in the West to be run by freed black slaves