the haitian revolution a small island makes a big statement
TRANSCRIPT
The Haitian Revolution
A small island makes a big statement
Santo Domingo -- first settled by Spanish
Background
French controlled Most profitable colony in the world because of sugar and coffee plantations worked by African slaves
Population 90% African (free and slaves) -- free owned slaves
Seeds of Revolution
Enlightenment ideas reach Haiti; people want equality; slaves want freedom
Nat’l Assembly- 1791- laws regarding equality do not apply to colonies
Free blacks and slaves are fed up
The Revolution Begins - 1791 Slave uprising is joined by free blacks and mulattoes
Slaves seek vengeance -- burn plantations and kill whites (including women and children)
France sends troops
Early 1790’s - Period of Chaos
Battle for the Island Slave s cross to Spanish side of the Island to
regroup and Launch attack
British send troops to help Spain put down the slave revolt on their half of the Island
Slaves abandon Spain and re ally with the French to beat the British
End of Slavery?
1793 - Slavery abolished in Haiti
1794 - Slavery abolished in all French colonies
Problem: plantation owners do not agree
Toussaint L’Ouverture
Educated slave who joined revolt of 1791
Brilliant general -- defeats British forces in 1794
Demands total freedom for all slaves
Toussaint’s Successes
Drove out British and Spanish invaders
Gained admiration of French
Controlled most of the island by 1797
Wrote constitution that gave equality and citizenship to all in Haiti
Napoleon Wants a French Empire
Napoleon wants Haiti, 1802 sends army
L’Ouverture now fights for independence - believes Napoleon supports slavery
US sends $ and materials to weaken France
L’Ouverture kidnapped and dies in French prison
Dessalines helps defeat France -names Haiti independent in 1804
Independence at Last
Aftermath in Haiti
Haiti finally becomes a republic in 1820
Problem: most of economy was based on cash crops -- how to support new country?
Still a divide between previously free blacks and newly free slaves
Significance of the Revolution Second republic to be created by revolution
First place to have a successful slave revolt
First country in the West to be run by freed black slaves