Transcript The Haitian Revolution

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)
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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
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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
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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
In 1791, Haitian Slaves
revolt in a violent uprising.
But….not anymore!
@#$%*&!
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/haitian-revolution.htm
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
France Gets Worried
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 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
Best friends now…
•1794:
Sonthonax
and
Toussant
had joined
forces
•4000
troops
followed
Toussant
•Eliminated
Spanish
threat in
July 1795
Toussaint’s Triumphs
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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…
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To act violently against soldiers
To attack or harm civilians
To break promises
To overthrow your government
To trick your enemy with lies