Transcript Pre-Class 1/5/10

Pre-Class 1/5/10

In your notes:

Give this picture a title

List 3 details that you see
in this picture
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
What stands out to you in
this picture?
Write down 3 questions
you have about this
picture.
Toussaint L’Overture
(French Perspective)
Welcome 1/5/10

Today’s Agenda
1. Pre-Class
2. Share
Out
3. Haitian Revolution
4. Final Thoughts/HW
Today’s Objectives
1. To learn about the Haitian
Rebellion
2. To learn what effect it had on
American slaves
Announcements
 Notes are in BLUE today.
So where is Haiti?
Quick Thoughts
Raise your hands in response to the following
questions:
1. What ideas do we remember about Caribbean Slavery?

2.
What were the conditions like?
3.
What was the population of Caribbean plantations like?
San Domingue
1.
2.
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*San Domingue was the
largest Carribean
Colony
S.D. also made the most
money of all the
Caribbean Colonies.
What can these facts
tell us about life on
San Domingue?
*San Domingue = Haiti
Why is San Domingue Relevant?
COPY THESE DOWN
1.
It is the site of the largest and most successful slave revolt in the
Americas
2.
3.
Becomes the first internationally recognized and independent
Black Nation in the Americas
Would inspire slaves in America as a symbol of Black freedom
San Domingue 18th Century
Racial Break Down:

San Domingue was owned
by the French.
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20,000-40,000 whites
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Society was based on
sugar plantations.
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30,000 free people of
color
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Population involved 
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5%
15,000 mulattos
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3.5% - 7%
2.5%
500,000 slaves
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88%
Turn and Discuss with your partner
San Domingue was in essence no different
than any other Sugar-producing colony at
that time.
And yet revolution is about to break out!
What might lead to slave revolution?
Hint: Think about what else is going on in the world at this time.
 REMEMBER
BLUE = NOTES!
2 Main Influences…
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The Haitian Revolution was inspired by 2 other revolutions:
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American Revolution 1776
French Revolution 1789
The ideas of the Enlightenment made it to San Domingue and
inspired revolution among the slaves!
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Haitian Revolution 1791-1804
Americans inspire French, French inspire San Domingue (Haiti)
Enlightened Ideas in San Domingue
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French Revolution – Declaration of Rights of Man and
Citizen
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All Men are born and remain free and equal
White Planters in San Domingue refuse equality to blacks
Free blacks and slaves revolt in response.
Local Leaders Inspire Revolution
Boukman Dutty – Ex-Slave and Voodoo Leader
“[I am Boukman Dutty, former slave and voodoo priest.] God who made
the sun that shines on us from above, who makes the sea to rage and
the thunder roll, this same great God from his hiding place on a cloud,
hear me, all of you, is looking down upon us. He sees what the whites
are doing. The God of the whites asks for crime; ours desires only
blessings. But this God who is good directs you to vengeance! He will
direct our arms, he will help us. Cast aside the image of the God of
the whites who thirsts for our tears and pay heed to the voice of
liberty speaking in our hearts….”
The “Black George Washington”
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Toussaint L’Ouverture
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Leader and General of the
Black Slave Army
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Was born into slavery
Freed at Age 33
Actually owned slaves on
San Domingue (eventually
freed them)
The Haitian Revolution! -- Under Toussaint
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Lasted 13 bloody years
Toussaint and his forces fought British, Spanish and French
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Toussaint eventually signed treaties with France,
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When France lost control of San Domingue, other Europeans moved in to
steal the colony
Alliances shifted during the 13 years
France made Toussaint Governor of San Domingue for life 1797
Why would France do this? Why make peace with Toussaint?
1802 Toussaint is captured by Napoleon’s forces (Double Cross)
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Llerc (Napoleon’s Brother-in-law) leads forces
Haitian Revolution – After Toussaint
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Once Toussaint removed
French begin nasty campaign to
reinstitute slavery
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Man-eating dogs to hunt black
soldiers
Massacres/mutilations of blacks
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Dessalines (black general) takes
command defeats French, Haiti
declares independence 1804!

After losing San Domingue,
Napoleon sells the US his
Lousiana Territory – gives up
on American conquest

Revenge Taken by Black Soldiers
Tonight’s Homework
Read Pages 162 “Slave Uprisings” – 165
Answer the following:
1.
How did the legacy of the Haitian Rebellion and Toussaint
Louverture and the Enlightenment affect the views of slaves
and their ideas on rebellion?
2.
How did the whites react to the fear of slave uprisings?
What actions did they take?
Pre-Class 1/6/10

Imagine you were in San Domingue at the start of
the Slave Revolt…
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Write a half page letter detailing your reaction to
the events going on around you. Make specific
reference to what you have learned about the
Haitian Revolution so far.
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Write as one of the following characters:
1.
2.
3.
A French Soldier
A Free Black/Slave
A local merchant (non soldier)
Welcome 1/6/10
Today’s Agenda
Today’s Objectives
Pre-Class
2. Share Out
3. Wrap up Notes
4. Final Thoughts & HW

1.
To understand the impact
made by the Haitian
Revolution on American
society.
Announcements:
 Notes are still in BLUE
Haitian Revolution – After Toussaint

Once Toussaint removed
French begin nasty campaign to
reinstitute slavery


Man-eating dogs to hunt black
soldiers
Massacres/mutilations of blacks

Dessalines (black general) takes
command defeats French, Haiti
declares independence 1804!

After losing San Domingue,
Napoleon sells the US his
Lousiana Territory – gives up
on American conquest

Revenge Taken by Black Soldiers
The Legacy of the Haitian Revolution
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The victory of the slaves
in Haiti became a very
influential achievement.
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How would you expect
blacks to react?
Whites?
America?
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Black Reaction – Intellectual Change
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Keep in mind the magnitude of Toussaint’s Victory!
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Toussaint as “Black George Washington” – Heroic Symbol
Haitian Revolution becomes inspirational on an intellectual level
Shift in Black Views on Ending Slavery; Personal  Enlightenment
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Prior to Enlightenment – Blacks view an end of slavery on a personal
level – end personal grievances, revenge etc.
Haitian Revolution embodies new ideas
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It’s not just about one person, it must be destroyed for the sake of the
common good – it denies human rights to its victims.
Haitian Rev was a revolution of “moral conscious.”
Black Reaction – Inspiration for Future Rebellion
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Gabriel Prosser Conspiracy
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Attempt to capture Virginian Governor James Monroe
Armed attempt was meant to inspire free blacks, slaves, poor
whites, and Native Americans to fight back against whites.
Was the most far reaching planned slave revolt in U.S. History
– but it failed.
Gabriel Prosser
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Blacksmith/Slave
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Afforded some independence by his job
Social/Intellectual inspiration -- free blacks, Haitian Rev, American Rev,
white laborers (poor whites)
Maiming a white man trial, bible verse loophole – escaped
death
White Reaction – Fear of Slaves
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News of Slave Uprisings created fear of imminent race war
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Haiti was scary
Gabriel, terrified – too close to home.
Spread of fear affects decisions about slave treatment
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Increase in Slave Code strictness – communication crackdown
Isolation of slaves – separation created between slaves and free blacks
Suspicion of outsiders – free slaves forced out of south
White Reaction – Thomas Jefferson
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How would Thomas Jefferson react to Toussaint L’Ourverture?
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In typical Thomas Jefferson Fashion
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Removed old ambassador to San Domingue (who was a friend to Toussaint)
– replaced him with Tobias Lear, a nobody (low-level)
The Reaction: “He [Toussaint] immediately returned my
Commission without opening it, expressing his disappointment
and disgust in strong terms, saying that his Colour was the cause
of his being neglected, and not thought worthy of the Usual
attentions.”
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As expected – Jefferson has no intention of acknowledging Toussaint as an
equal.