Hatian
The Role of Toussaint L’Ouverture in the Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution, 1792-1803, was the first and only successful slave uprising. Before the revolution, Saint Domingue was a French colony. Saint Domingue was a leading producer of crops such as sugar and coffee, which fueled France’s economy. Enslaved Africans labored under harsh conditions. The slaves were owned by a class in society, known as planters, who supported slavery and were considered citizens of France. 1Another class was the free people of color, who were Blacks in agreement with slavery, even though they did not have the rights planters did.2 Both the planters and free people of color wanted Saint Domingue to be independent of French rule, but they wanted the island to become a free owning slave nation. 3 This was because the French had a system known as an exclusif, which made them only have trading affairs with the French.4The slaves did not agree on slavery in Saint Domingue, they did not agree on the social hierarchy system, since they had the lowest rights out of all of the classes, and finally they did not agree with the French on the exclusif system and the disputes regarding rights.5 A rebellion broke out in 1791, which was known as the Haitian Revolution, and was a war in which the Black slaves defeated the French, and other European forces. Although many slaves did not agree with the policy of enslavement, one vocal leader, known as Toussaint L’Ouverture was the voice of change for the overall movement. The multidimensional figure of Toussaint L’Ouverture led Saint Domingue into rebellion, from being a French colony, to a self-governing country, with the help of a slave militia.
Toussaint L’Ouverture had a significant role in the uprising of the Haitian Revolution, by carrying out the main goal of the slaves, which was to overthrow France’s rule. In 1791, the initial revolt that sparked the Haitian Revolution was done through a Vodun style prayer call, carried out by
The Haitian Revolution, 1792-1803, was the first and only successful slave uprising. Before the revolution, Saint Domingue was a French colony. Saint Domingue was a leading producer of crops such as sugar and coffee, which fueled France’s economy. Enslaved Africans labored under harsh conditions. The slaves were owned by a class in society, known as planters, who supported slavery and were considered citizens of France. 1Another class was the free people of color, who were Blacks in agreement with slavery, even though they did not have the rights planters did.2 Both the planters and free people of color wanted Saint Domingue to be independent of French rule, but they wanted the island to become a free owning slave nation. 3 This was because the French had a system known as an exclusif, which made them only have trading affairs with the French.4The slaves did not agree on slavery in Saint Domingue, they did not agree on the social hierarchy system, since they had the lowest rights out of all of the classes, and finally they did not agree with the French on the exclusif system and the disputes regarding rights.5 A rebellion broke out in 1791, which was known as the Haitian Revolution, and was a war in which the Black slaves defeated the French, and other European forces. Although many slaves did not agree with the policy of enslavement, one vocal leader, known as Toussaint L’Ouverture was the voice of change for the overall movement. The multidimensional figure of Toussaint L’Ouverture led Saint Domingue into rebellion, from being a French colony, to a self-governing country, with the help of a slave militia.
Toussaint L’Ouverture had a significant role in the uprising of the Haitian Revolution, by carrying out the main goal of the slaves, which was to overthrow France’s rule. In 1791, the initial revolt that sparked the Haitian Revolution was done through a Vodun style prayer call, carried out by
Bibliography: Corbett, Bob. “The Haitian Revolution of 1791-1803.” Webster. http://www.webster.com (accessed April 25, 2012) Smith, Ashley. “The Black Jacobins.” International Socialist Review. http://www.isreview.org (accessed May 4, 2012) Thompson, Vincent B. The Making of the African Diaspora in the Americas 1441-1900. New York: Longman Inc., 1987.