Haitian Revolution 1791-1803

Saint Domingue’s Racial Breakdown in the 18th Century 20,000-40,000 whites 3.5-7% 30,000 free people of color 5% 15,000 mulattos 2.5% 500,000 slaves 88%

Haiti before 1791 France controlled the western part of the Island. By the end of the 18th century, 500,000 people were enslaved by the French. Most were of western African descent. The Saint Domingue colony was the most lucrative colony in the world. French plantation owners were watching the events of the French Revolution.

Haitian Slavery The conditions on the island were the worst in the world. The death rate of slaves was around 50%. Most died of overwork in the sugar, coffee, and indigo plantations. It was common to torture slaves who resisted. Most slaves had memories of freedom in Africa.

Why did the Slaves Revolt? Slaves outnumbered whites 10-1. This allowed them to keep their African customs. Voodoo (Vodon) was widely practiced among the slaves. This religion gave the slaves a form of cultural expression and a rallying point for protest against their oppressors.

Boukman Dutty’s prayer “[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….”

How did the Revolt begin? The upper, middle, and Mulatto classes were at odds with each other. Black slaves rebelled against their owners in 1791, taking advantage of large difference in population. They killed whites and destroyed their plantations. Boukman, a Voodoo priest led over 100,000 slaves against the French.

Toussaint L’ouverture

Toussaint L’ouverture He was a former slave who wanted to ensure the revolution took hold. He was a 50 year old carriage driver. He did not participate in the original uprising, but eventually began organizing slaves into military units. He organized the military to fight against the French, Spanish, and English. All three countries wanted to control the island and ensure that the slave revolt failed.

The defeat of the French, Spanish, & English They joined forces with the Spanish army to fight against the French. L’ouverture rose to high rank within the Spanish Army. When France abolished slavery, he switched sides. L’ouverture was promoted to General in the French Army. He ruled the colony as the French Governor-General. He then forced the British troops to withdraw. His army then defeated a group of mulattos in the south in a race war.

What happened to L’ouverture? He liberated the entire island from slavery. He still demanded the production of sugar and coffee in order to rebuild the Haitian economy. Napoleon wanted to return to Saint Domingue to reinstate French control and slavery. He then sent a French force to recapture the island. L’ouverture was then captured and imprisoned in France.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines

How did Haiti gain its Independence? Jean-Jacques Dessalines led a revolt following L’ouverture’s capture. A horrific war broke out, and both sides resorted to mass murder. Haitians killed all Europeans and the French killed all blacks. France was unable to re-supply their troops, and they also suffered a fever within their camps. Haiti would win the war in November 1803.