Toussaint L Ouverture: The French Revolution
As James shows us that the French revolution had one of the biggest impacts on the Hattian revolution. While the freed slaves fought the masters in San Domingo, across the Atlantic ocean, France was going through a political upheaval. In France, the bourgeoisie overthrew the king who had been ruling the country leaving the common people poorer than ever. Even while the country was being ripped in too the French parliament still sent troops to San Domingo, “Six thousand Men 4,000 National Guards and 2,000 troops of the line, sailed form France in 15 ships to finish with all this quarrelling between the slave-owners in San Domingo” (James 118). Even though the country is failing France is willing to send troops to San Domingo to protect the
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Toussaints call to rally the freed slaves on August 29th shows just how he thought that liberty and equality were the most importatnt bases for revolution, “’Brothers and friends. I am Toussaint L’Ouverture, my name is perhaps known to you. I have undertaken vengeance. I want Liberty and Equality to reign in San Domingo. I work ot bring them into existence. Unite yourselves to us, brothers, and fight withus for the same cause,’” (James 125). Toussaint is chosen as a leader because he is vocal and knows what he stands for. Not only did Toussaint and the slaves have to overcome oppressing masters, and a failing France, they had to defend San Domingo against British invasion. At this time the British navy was the largest in the world. James goes into great detail about why the British invasion would have been devastating to the newly freed slaves. James states, “On September 9th the British expedition of 900 men left Jamaica and landed at Jeremie.” (James 135). This first scouting excursion is Great Britain’s first attempt to see if the French and Haitian Revolution had destabled San Domingo enough to leave them susceptible to an attack. As the British arravied to San Domingo they were welcomed by the slave masters that had been over thrown. The wealthy plantation owners wanted the British to help them regain power, “All
Toussaints call to rally the freed slaves on August 29th shows just how he thought that liberty and equality were the most importatnt bases for revolution, “’Brothers and friends. I am Toussaint L’Ouverture, my name is perhaps known to you. I have undertaken vengeance. I want Liberty and Equality to reign in San Domingo. I work ot bring them into existence. Unite yourselves to us, brothers, and fight withus for the same cause,’” (James 125). Toussaint is chosen as a leader because he is vocal and knows what he stands for. Not only did Toussaint and the slaves have to overcome oppressing masters, and a failing France, they had to defend San Domingo against British invasion. At this time the British navy was the largest in the world. James goes into great detail about why the British invasion would have been devastating to the newly freed slaves. James states, “On September 9th the British expedition of 900 men left Jamaica and landed at Jeremie.” (James 135). This first scouting excursion is Great Britain’s first attempt to see if the French and Haitian Revolution had destabled San Domingo enough to leave them susceptible to an attack. As the British arravied to San Domingo they were welcomed by the slave masters that had been over thrown. The wealthy plantation owners wanted the British to help them regain power, “All