Haiti Slave Rebellion and Independence By: Cory Wokasch and Brandon Ricke

Background St. Domingue - One of France’s most wealthiest colonies From production of sugar, coffee, indigo, and cotton Generated by enslaved workforce Much of the white population in St. Domingue did not have representation in France White population was around 40,000 Slave population around 500,000 (1789) White Planters worried about a rebellion Did the best to keep slaves in line with brutality

Start of Haitian Revolution The Haiti Slave Rebellion was a successful anti-slavery and anti-colonial insurrection that took place in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. This was a revolution started by the slaves of Haiti to gain freedom from France. The Haiti Slave Rebellion lasted from 1791-1804.

Important People Involved In the Haitian Slave Rebellion Toussaint L’Ouverture 1743-1803 Best-known leader of the Haitian Revolution Fought for Spain against France, and then for France against Spain He was a slave until the age of 33 In a club known as Jacobin, which helped him gain political power Worked as a mediator between the rebels and French throughout the early parts of the rebellion His views changed midway through the rebellion from willing to bargain for better conditions of slavery to wanting to have it completely abolished

Toussaint (Cont.) Became one of the main leaders of the rebellion in 1793 When Saint-Domingue became a free colony, the constitution proclaimed him governor for life. “Brothers and friends, I am Toussaint Louverture; perhaps my name has made itself known to you. I have undertaken vengeance. I want Liberty and Equality to reign in St. Domingue. I am working to make that happen. Unite yourselves to us, brothers and fight with us for the same cause. Your very humble and obedient servant, Toussaint Louverture. General of the armies of the king, for the public good.”

Other Important People Involved With the Haitian Slave Rebellion Vincent Ogé 1755-1791 A “quadroon”(one-quarter African- American, three-quarters French) Came to Saint-Domingue as a free man Started what is today known as the Ogé Revolt in 1790 His brutal execution in Le Cap in 1791 by being “broken on the wheel” caused the already dissatisfied slaves and free men of color to become even more angry.

Important Dates August 14, 1791 - Haitian Revolution begins Bois Caïman ceremony - Voodoo ritual Led by Dutty Boukman Systematically start plantations on fire August 30th, 1791 Slave force around 15,000 184 sugar plantations destroyed in North Every plantation within 50 miles of capital is destroyed September 21st, 1791 Colonial Assembly grants Mulattoes and free blacks citizenship White planters object violently Tensions in the colony rise Later revoked - caused Mulatto population to take up arms in collaboration with slave rebellion

Important Dates (cont.) November 1791 - Boukman dies First leader to die Negotiations begin By 1792, 1/3 of island is in rebel control May 1792 - Spain declares war on French Mulattoes and free blacks in South join with Spain in open rebellion June 20th, 1793 Le Cap is once again in flames New decree is issued - any slave that joins the republican army is granted freedom August 1793 Civic Commissioner Étienne Polverel declares certain slaves freedom Léger-Félicité Sonthonax abolished all slavery in the north Slaves now called “laborers” - earn minimal pay

Important Dates (cont.) February 7th, 1794 - New Work code is established Requires owners to give slaves 1/3 of the plantations revenue Does not ease discontent, resistance continues Spring 1794 - France has lost control of nearly all of the colony May 6th, 1794 L’Ouverture joins French after the Spanish refuse to take steps in ending slavery July 22nd, 1795 - France and Spain sign a peace treaty ceding Saint Domingue to France June 1796 - Final withdrawal of Spanish forces from Hispaniola October 1796 Power Struggles L’Ouverture appointed commander-in-chief of Sonthonax’s army

Important Dates (cont.) March 1798 - The British surrender their fight for St. Domingue April 1798 The french send in another official, Thomas Hedouville Slaves view Hedouville’s actions as an attempt to reinstate slavery New wave of insurrection breaks out June 13th, 1798 - L’Ouverture signs secret alliance with England and US October 1798 - Napoleon Bonaparte faces pressure to take down L’Ouverture July 1799 - Civil war breaks out Between L’Ouverture and Riguad (Mulatto military leader) 1799 - French Revolution ends

Important Dates (cont.) July 1800 - Civil war ends Riguad exiled August 30th - L’ Ouverture is proclaimed the colony’s Supreme Commander-in- Chief Set new policies to tradition plantation system Attempts to restructure St. Domingue economy Laborers see as reimposing slavery July 8th, 1801 - L’Ouverture send France a new constitution Abolish slavery forever and equal rights for all Not declaration of independence France refuses constitution General Victor-Emmanuel Leclerc sent to reimpose slavery

Important Dates (cont.) October 1801 - General Leclerc sails to St. Domingue Brings 20,000 troops known as the “French Elites Expected to re-establish power in 3 months February 1802 - Le Cap is once again set on fire In anticipation of the European arrival February 6th 1802 L’Ouverture sends word to leaders of colony that the Europeans are trying to re-impose slavery First two weeks two thousand European troops hospitalized ¾ ill and wounded Three weeks in 500 have died, and 1000 wounded

Important Dates (cont.) April 1802 L’Ouverture surrenders after several defeats Allows him to retire with his staff, retain his army ranks and functions, and retire to a place of his choosing June 1802 Leclerc betrays his agreement with L’Ouverture Arrests him and send him to France where he dies August 1802 - Bonaparte issues decree to re-establish slavery Slaves organize mass resistance Decimate Leclerc’s army with combined spread of diseases General Rochambeau takes Leclerc’s place Jean-Jacques Dessalines takes L’Ouverture’s place

Important Dates (cont.) November 17th, 1803 - General Rochambeau surrenders to Dessalines After defeat at the Battle of Vertières French accept defeat and evacuate forces Lost 50,000 men in their efforts January 1st - Dessalines proclaims Haiti’s independence Became first independent colony in Latin America Slavery abolished Renamed Haiti Rest of the French residents in Haiti are executed (around 4,000)

Impact Estimated Death toll French impose debt Haitans - 200,000 British - 45,000 White colonists - 25,000 French impose debt Slave owners “losses” of property (slaves) King Charles X demands Haiti to pay a “independence fee” 150m gold Francs (10 times Haiti’s annual revenue) Threat of military attack Haiti agree’s to pay Forced to take loan from French bank with high interest and taxes Haiti was still paying off 140 years after independence

Discussion Questions In what ways do you think Haiti as a nation would be different had it not been for the Slave uprising? Do you think internal factors such as class conflicts and population growth or external factors like international war between Spanish, French, and British had a bigger impact on the Haitian Revolution?

Sources http://library.brown.edu/haitihistory http://classroom.monticello.org/images/handouts/FrenchHatianTimeline.pdf http://www.blackpast.org/gah/haitian-revolution-1791-1804 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/16/haiti-france