THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

The Haitian Revolution The Haitian Revolution represents the most thorough

case study of revolutionary change anywhere in the history of the modern world.

The Haitian Revolution (1791–1804) was a period of brutal conflict in the French colony of St Domingue, leading to the elimination of slavery and the establishment of Haiti as the first republic ruled by people of African ancestry. Although hundreds of rebellions occurred in the New World during the centuries of slavery, only the St. Domingue Slave Revolt, which began in 1791, was successful in achieving permanent independence under a new nation. The Haitian Revolution is regarded as a defining moment in the history of Africans in the New World

Causes of the Haitian Revolution

St. Domingue was characterized by discontent among the main social groups as each faced internal as well as external conflicts. The whites(grand blancs and petit blancs), the plantation owners wanted to rule themselves and the rest of the government. The mulattoes wanted to be equal to the whites and the slaves wanted freedom.

In France, the majority of the Estates General, an advisory body to the King, constituted itself as the National Assembly, made radical changes in French laws, and on 26 August 1789, published the Declaration of the Rights of Man, declaring all men free and equal. The French Revolution shaped the course of the conflict in Saint-Domingue and was at first widely welcomed in the island. So many were the twists and turns in the leadership in France, and so complex were events in Saint-Domingue, that various classes and parties changed their alignments many times

The African population on the island began to hear of the agitation for independence by the rich European planters, the grands blancs, who had resented France's limitations on the island's foreign trade. The Africans mostly allied with the royalists and the British, as they understood that if St. Domingue’s independence were to be led by white slave masters, it would probably mean even harsher treatment and increased injustice for the African population, The plantation owners would be free to operate slavery as they pleased without minimal accountability to their French peers

Social Groups in St. Domingue in 1789

Grand blancs (wealthy planters,civil and military offices

35,000

25,000

450,000/500,000

Merchants, professionals

Petits blancs (overseers, artisans, small shopkeepers etc.)

Free coloureds and free blacks

Slaves

Organization of the Haitian Revolution

Bands of runaway slaves, known as maroons, entrenched themselves in bastions in the colony's mountains and forests, from which they harried white-owned plantations both to secure provisions and weaponry and to avenge themselves against the inhabitants. As their numbers grew, these bands, sometimes consisting of thousands of people, began to carry out hit-and-run attacks throughout the colony. This guerrilla warfare, however, lacked centralized organization and leadership. The most famous maroon leader was François Macandal, whose six-year rebellion (1751-57) left an estimated 6,000 dead. Reportedly a voodoo sorcerer, Macandal drew from African traditions and religions to motivate his followers. The French burned him at the stake in Cap Français in 1758. Popular accounts of his execution that say the stake snapped during his execution have enhanced his legendary stature.

A slave rebellion of 1791 finally toppled the colony. Launched in August of that year, the revolt represented the culmination of a protracted conspiracy among black leaders. According to accounts of the rebellion that have been told through the years, Franois-Dominique Toussaint Louverture helped plot the uprising, although this claim has never been substantiated. Among the rebellion's leaders were Boukman, a maroon and voodoo houngan (priest); Georges Biassou, who later made Toussaint his aide; Jean-Franois, who subsequently commanded forces, along with Biassou and Toussaint, under the Spanish flag; and Jeannot, the bloodthirstiest of them all. These leaders sealed their compact with a voodoo ceremony conducted by Boukman in the Bois Cayman (Alligator Woods) in early August 1791. On August 22, a little more than a week after the ceremony, the uprising of their black followers began.

ORGANIZATIONToussaint L'Ouverture was the leader of the

Haitian Revolution in the late eighteenth century, in which slaves rebelled against their

masters and established the first free black republic. This collection of his writings and

speeches demonstrates his profound contribution to the struggle for equality.

Although Toussaint was now effectively the political and military leader of the island, the French government continued to appoint representatives with whom he had varying relationships. Governor Laveaux left Saint-Domingue in 1796. He was succeeded by Leger-Felicite`Sonthonax , an extremist French commissioner who had served on the island before. He allowed Toussaint Louverture to effectively rule and promoted him to General . In May 1797 Sonthonax named Toussaint Louverture commander-in-chief of the French republican army in Saint-Domingue. Toussaint was repelled by this radical's proposals to exterminate all Europeans. He found Sonthonax's atheism, coarseness, and immorality offensive. After some maneuvering, Toussaint Louverture forced Sonthonax out in 1797.

Louverture soon rid himself of another nominal French superior, Gabriel He`douvill , who arrived in 1798 as representative of the Directoire government of France. Aware that France had no chance of restoring colonialism as long as the war with Great Britain continued, Hédouville tried to pit Toussaint Louverture against the leader of colour,Andre` Riguad. In 1795, inspired by Toussaint’s military successes, Rigaud had renewed his attacks from the stronghold of free people of color in Port au Prince. Controlling a force of officers of colored and black troops, he now ruled a semi-independent state in the South, and wanted to retain portions of the Western Department which he had taken over.Toussaint Louverture, however, figured out Hédouville’s purpose and forced him to flee. Hédouville was succeeded by Philippe Roume, who deferred to the black governor.

From 1795 onwards, Toussaint was widely renowned. He was revered by the blacks and appreciated by most whites and people of color for helping restore the economy of Saint-Domingue. He invited many émigré planters to return, as he knew their management and technical expertise was needed to restore the economy and generate revenues. He used military discipline to force former slaves to work as laborers to get the plantations running again. He believed that people were naturally flawed and that discipline was needed to prevent idleness. He no longer permitted the laborers to be whipped. They were legally free and equal, and they shared the profits of the restored plantations. Racial tensions eased because Toussaint preached reconciliation and believed that for the blacks, a majority of whom were native Africans, there were lessons to be learned from whites and people of color, among whom many men had been educated in France and often trained in the military