The Haitian Revolution: 1791-1804

Modern Map

Haiti Under Colonial Rule

•Spain (1492 -1697) •France (1697-1804)

Slave Labor

As a Spanish colony,

Haiti was built on

the backs of

slave labor – first by natives, then by African slaves.

Situation by 1789•Once again, events in Europe would shape the history of America•The French Revolution began in 1789 & overthrown the monarchy by 1793.

Haitians were inspired by the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, and hoped they too would gain freedom. Blacks were especially hopeful.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man (August 27, 1789)

How would the Declaration of the Rights of Man influence a revolt in Haiti?

“Article 1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may only be founded upon the general good.”

“ The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptibly rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression”

Haiti on the Eve of Revolt By 1789, Haiti was the most profitable

colony of the French Empire Produced 60% of the world’s coffee and

40% of the world’s sugar Most profitable island in the Caribbean

Profitable….but unequal Whites (grand/petite blancs) = 40,000 Free blacks (gens de couleur) = 28,000 Black slaves = 425,000

First Rumbles

Vincent Oge, a gens de couleur, led a brief revolt after he was denied the right to vote by the colonial governor. Brutally executed in 1791.

STOP!!!!!!Up to this point, the Haitian Revolution was between______s and ______s

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/haitian-revolution.htm

In 1791, Haitian Slaves revolt in a violent uprising.

But….not anymore!

@#$%*&!

Complete Rebellion

Signal to revolt was given by Dutty Boukman, a high voodoo priest, during a religious ceremony on 8/14.

In late-August 1791, slaves controlled all of

northern Haiti; 1792 – 1/3 of the island Despite being well-armed, whites were

overwhelmed by over 100,000 slaves Slaves sought revenge, using rape, pillaging,

torture, mutilation Killed 4000 whites, destroyed 180 plantations Despite success, whites still controlled major

cities

France Gets Worried French Republic worried about losing “jewel

of the empire” Granted political & civil rights to gens de

couleur in April 4 1792, sent 6000 troops to Haiti in September

The gran & petit blancs refused to obey the April 4th Law

Sonthonax French commissioner who landed in Haiti to

enforce Law of April 4; whites refused his authority

Sonthonax recruited gens de c. to his cause; still outnumbered, he promised slaves their freedom if they helped defeat the blancs

Whites defeated and rebels take control of Cap Fracois; Sontho frees ALL slaves

Léger-Félicité Sonthonax

Slaves Suspicious The slaves who had helped Sonthonax did

not trust his emancipation decree Whites were still fighting the French Strange scenario led both the gran blancs

and slaves to side with Britain & Spain against the French

Chaotic, Fluid Situation In various regions of the colony, black

slaves rebelled against white colonists, mulattoes battled white levies, and black royalists opposed both whites and mulattoes.

Whites v. France, Whites v. Blacks, Mulattos v. Whites & Blacks, etc.

France at War France already at war with Britain & Spain Not wanting to fight own slaves, France

abolished slavery on Feb 4, 1794 Had little effect on slaves switching sides,

except for…..

Toussaint Louverture“I was born a slave, but nature gave me the soulof a free man.”

•Born a slave, but educated early in life•Freed around 1776•Owned a small plantation with slavesby 1791•Devout Catholic•Had been fighting for the Spanish since April 1793•Switched sides in May 1794•Extremely able general who turned “common”slaves into effective fighting force

Best friends now…•1794: Sonthonax and Toussant had joined forces•4000 troops followed Toussant•Eliminated Spanish threat in July 1795

Toussaint’s Triumphs Treaty of Basel: ended war between Spain &

France Blacks loyal to Spain continued against

Toussaint, but defeated; their troops joined Toussaint

_______ still at war with France, and still had troops fighting in Haiti

Secured British withdrawal with secret treaty in 1798

Challenges to Toussaint Faced many rivals: Andre Rigaud,

Sonthonax Andre Rigaud: mulatto general who

competed with Toussaint for power Sonthonax: Ran against Toussaint for

representative of Haiti Forced both off the island by 1801,

Toussaint controlled all of Haiti

Napoleon Comes to Power

•In 1799, Napoleon proclaimed the French colonies would be subject to “special laws”

•If you were a black Haitian, why would you be nervous about Napoleon’s statement?

Constitution of 1801 Made Toussaint governor for life Roman Catholic Church only religion

allowed (no voodoo) “All men are born, live and die free and

French.” Emphasized two things: Haiti was FRENCH

and Haiti was FREE (not necessarily in that order)

Leclerc Expedition•Brother-in-law of Napoleon Charles Leclerc sent to enforce French authority, commanded 20,000 •Landed in Dec 1801•Toussaint ordered his generals to burn the cities, kill the whites, retreat into the mountains•Leclerc’s forces able to capture Toussaint’s sons, forced surrender•Toussaint allowed to go back to his plantation•French authority restored until yellow fever wiped out 15,000 French troops; Toussaint prepares to restore his power•Leclerc senses Toussaint’s move, arrests him, ships to France; dies in 1803

Battle of Vertieries•Jean-Jacques Dessalines led successful campaign against the French after Toussaint arrested•Last hold-out was Vertieres•27000 Haitian rebels overwhelmed 2000 French on Nov 18, 1803•Dessalines declared Haiti an independent nation on January 1, 1804, and named himself Emperor of Haiti on Sept 22nd

1804 Massacre Dessalines orders all remaining whites killed Orders were to kill with “silent” weapons so the

victims could not be warned and escape Many blacks did not follow this order until Dess

personally arrived to oversee massacres Women & children killed; 3000-5000 total deaths

Aftermath 1st Independent Nation in L. America 1st post-colonial black-led nation in the

world 1st successful slave rebellion Economy in ruins Class structure (though different, less strict)

still in place

Under what circumstances is it acceptable…

To act violently against soldiers To attack or harm civilians To break promises To overthrow your government To trick your enemy with lies