The Haitian Revolution: 1791-1804

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The Haitian Revolution 1791-1804
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Modern Map
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Haiti Under Colonial Rule

• Spain (1492 -1697)

• France (1697-1804)

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Slave Labor
As a Spanish colony, Haiti was built on the backs
of slave labor first by natives, then by
African slaves.
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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.
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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

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Haiti on the Eve of Revolt

• By 1789, Haiti was the most profitable colony of
  the French Empire
• Produced 60 of the worlds coffee and 40 of the
  worlds sugar
• Most profitable island in the Caribbean

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Profitable.but unequal

• Whites (grand/petite blancs) 40,000
• Free blacks (gens de couleur) 28,000
• Black slaves 425,000

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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
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In 1791, Haitian Slaves revolt in a violent
uprising.
But.not anymore!
_at_!
http//www.latinamericanstudies.org/haitian-revolu
tion.htm
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Complete Rebellion
Signal to revolt was given by Dutty Boukman, a
high voodoo priest, during a religious ceremony
on 8/14.
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• 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

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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

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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

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Léger-Félicité Sonthonax
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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

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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.

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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..

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Toussaint Louverture
I was born a slave, but nature gave me the
soul of a free man.

• Born a slave, but educated early in life
• Freed around 1776
• Owned a small plantation with slaves
• by 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

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Best friends now

• 1794 Sonthonax and Toussant had joined forces
• 4000 troops followed Toussant
• Eliminated Spanish threat in July 1795

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Toussaints 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

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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

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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 Napoleons statement?

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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)

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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
• Leclercs forces able to capture Toussaints
  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 Toussaints move, arrests him,
  ships to France dies in 1803

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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

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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

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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

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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