Aim: What grade should we give to the Haitian Revolution?

Reasons Enlightened Philosophes did not free their slaves Slaves are brutes, uncivilized – incapable of reason We have to teach them in our society Slaves are property!!!!! Protecting their own wealth and income Against the “general will” Racism

Enlightenment idea of “Rights” vs. Class, Race, Gender

Haiti before the Revolution White plantation and slaveholders Gens de couleur”: –Black plantation and slaveholders Mulattos, other freed black peasants Huge #s of Slaves, worked oppressively

The Process of the Revolution French Revolution declares equality White planters seek independence Free blacks go to Paris, demand social equality w/ whites on Haiti, but no end to slavery Slave rebellions begin in Haiti “Radical Revolution” in France abolishes slavery English, Spanish seek to woo slaveholders and re- impose slavery

The Process of the Revolution French Revolution declares equality Free blacks go to Paris, demand social equality w/ whites on Haiti, but no end to slavery Slave rebellions begin in Haiti “Radical Revolution” in France abolishes slavery English, Spanish seek to woo slaveholders and re-impose slavery

The Process of the Revolution Napoleon sends an army to re-impose slavery Unity of gens de couleur and former slaves: Toussaint L’Ouverture, Dessalines lead independence revolution 1 st successful slave rebellion, 2 nd successful colonial rebellion

Afterwards: Problems of the Revolution Vast inequalities in social class and education – elites rule Race tensions among blacks based on skin color Plantations destroyed – slaves seize land for small self-sufficient farms Jefferson (US) embargoes all trade with Haiti

Haiti: An Early Example of Imperialism 1. Colonialists destroy indigenous culture and society 2. Colonialists create a new social structure: - a few European elites - somewhat more native (Haitian) elites - a huge number of oppressed Different class interests, even after revolution (whose revolution is it?)

Haiti: An Early Example of Imperialism 3. Colonialists create a new economic system (plantation agriculture) based on oppression 4. Colonialists educate only a handful of native elites 5. Interference from the West continues even after the revolution Should you change the economic system after the revolution? Who should rule after the revolution?