Haitian Revolution

Touissant L’Ouverture Jean-Jacques Dessalines Key Terms—As you read and watch the video, write the definitions beside of the words on your viewing guide. Hispaniola Creole Plantation system Vodou Revolution Touissant L’Ouverture Jean-Jacques Dessalines

Columbus Landing on Hispaniola, 1492 Island in the Caribbean Western side colonized by the French—Haiti Eastern side colonized by the Spanish—Dominican Republic

The island of Hispaniola was the first place in the New World to import African slaves. 774,000 slaves were brought to the island to work on sugar plantations compared to 500,000 slaves imported into the United States.

Slave Trade 1650-1860

Work with your partner. Compare the slave population of Hispaniola to that of the United States. Express this in mathematical terms. Compare the slave population of the West Indies to that of the United States. Express this in mathematical terms.

Creole – A language spoken by Haitians based largely on French, African dialects, Spanish, Taíno (native people), and English.

Sugar Plantation on Haiti Plantation System = big farms using slave labor to grow cash crops.

How important was Haiti to the French? Almost half of the world’s sugar came from Haiti. Sugar from Haiti accounted for 2/5 of France’s overseas trade.

Haitian Revolution Vodou (or Voodoo) = A religion developed by African slaves who were brought to Haiti in the 16th century. The complex belief system combines elements of several African religions. Voodoo unified and organized the slave populations in Haiti. It was a voodoo ceremony on August 14, 1791 that marked the beginning of the Haitian revolution.

Haitian Revolution Revolution The overthrow of one government to replace it with another, better government.

How were the American and French Revolutions an inspiration for the revolt by the slaves in Haiti? Discuss with your partner. Be prepared to share with the class.

Toussaint L’Ouverture Trained and led 500,000 slaves (10 times the number of plantation owners) in a revolt against the French. Even though it took a long time, they eventually conquered all of Haiti. In 1801, L'Ouverture proclaimed himself governor-general of Haiti. He also outlawed slavery on the island.

This didn't sit well with Napoleon, Emperor of France. The French didn't like losing Haiti, their wealthiest colony; and they certainly didn't like losing their colony to a rebel leader and a bunch of slaves. So Napoleon set a trap for L'Ouverture; sadly, the Haitian hero fell for it and was thrown into prison, where he died in 1803.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines This former slave-turned-general was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti. He declared independence on January 1, 1804, and ordered the killing of all Frenchmen on Haiti’s soil to prevent the reinstatement of slavery.

French planters killed by revolutionaries.

Ripping the White Out of the Flag

What did the phrase, “Ripping the White Out of the Flag” mean What did the phrase, “Ripping the White Out of the Flag” mean? What did the white portion of the French flag represent?

Haiti’s Flag Today

France, Britain and the United States refused to recognize the right of the new Republic of Haiti to exist.

Why did the Americans not support the Haitians right to revolt and form their own country? Discuss with your partner. Be prepared to share with the class.

As a French colony, Haiti’s wealth from the production of sugarcane led people to call the it “The Pearl of the Antilles.” With all of this potential earning power, why is Haiti the poorest country in the western hemisphere? Discuss with your partner. Write your answer to the last question on your worksheet. Be prepared to discuss with the class.

France threatened a trade embargo and boycott if the Haitians did not pay reparations for the loss of its once profitable colony. Haiti was forced to agree and paid over a billion dollars to the French over a hundred and twenty year period of time. This bankrupted the country.