Louverture's Efforts as Leader of the Haitian Revolution

In 1804 the Haitians finally reached independence: “Let us swear to the entire universe, to posterity, to ourselves, to renounce forever to France, and to die rather than live under its domination.” (Doc 7). This rebellion was the first successful slave revolt, it was the first time in history a large scale slave uprising was successful. Not only did the slaves overthrow the French, they created a new government where equality was prevalent, foreshadowing the freedom of slaves around the world. Sensing that the news of this rebellion would create unrest in America Thomas Jefferson attempted to America from coming into contact with Haiti because he feared American slaves would be inspired to revolt. He “denied that Haitian revolutionaries had the same right to independence and autonomy that he claimed for American patriots” (Doc 9).

Ogé and his rebels were successful the first few times, but they were soon defeated by a larger military force in Santo Domingo, and Ogé was publicly executed. Ogé’s bravery gave inspiration to the rebels who successfully won their independence during the Revolution. Social classes in Saint Domingue played a huge part in the slave revolts. The first part of the social class were the French and white colonists, who were in control of everything. Then came the mulattoes, who had the advantage of being free, but were still being oppressed by the French and white colonists who only saw them as people of color.

The revolution of Haiti was successful in a great extent. The slaves who were the first ones to revolt against their settlers and the French had one goal in mind, to have their own rights, liberty and not be controlled by the French. When the Hispaniola Island had gained their independence in 1804, the slaves gained their freedom, their rights and being filled with joy, they had a new notion, called, Haiti. Slaves were treated poorly and throughout time and a lot of fights the revolution they started ended with the slaved and the real people from Haiti in victory.

But in 1789, word of revolution in France made its way to the Caribbean colony” (Clemens, 2010). This encouraged the slaves to revolt, and the French could not put that rebellion down. Slaves outnumbered the colonists 10 to 1(Mason, 2010). Since then the Island has fought off slavery during the rebellion war against the French in 1791–1804 to eliminate slavery and became the first republic ruled by African Ancestry (Mason, 2010). Haiti endowed itself with a symbolic power that far exceeded its actual strength.This power was one of hope for many people who were enslaved by their colonisers, the possibility to be free.

The circumstances in Haiti just before The French Revolution were prime for an insurrection to occur. Lacking a clear and defined political authority, the White colonists were unable to contain adequate the rebellion that they had been forced upon themselves for years. Their contemptible treatment of Negroes and Mulattoes in Haiti sped up the progress of the cause of the abolition of slavery in Haiti. The excesses of that contemptible treatment are the very reason why the Haitian Revolution was so successful: the treatment of slaves and Mulattoes in Haiti was so bad that it forced the most violent and ultimately, the most successful slave insurrection in history. The French Revolution provided the necessary spark for the revolution in Haiti

History shows that the British governmental class was terrified by the Haitian Revolution and say that future imports of African captives could pose as a security threat. The Haitian Revolution was the outcome of a tedious battle on the behalf of the slaves in the French colony of St. Domingue, but was also pushed forward by the free half-bred residents who had looked down upon the trials of being represented as semi-citizens.There were three discrete social classifications in St. Domingue. First, there were the Whites, who had an immense amount of power over the three social classes. Next were the free Mulattoes, who was in a very unstable and insecure position in the Haitian society. Even though they enjoyed a considerate amount of freedom, they were suppressed by the conservative White reign of structure that only acknowledged the Mulattoes as being people of color.

Due to the difficult policing jobs given to the freed men with little reward, the communication between them and the white masters broke down. Now that the white slaveholders were on their own, it was only a matter of time before their brutal treatment of slaves would lead to an uprising. Once enslaved Africans received word of the revolution in France they too began demanding freedom. After years of civil unrest and vicious fighting, Haiti declared its freedom from France in January of 1804. What makes the Haitian Revolution more radical than the two before it is the fact that it was led by slaves.

Due to the difficult policing jobs given to the freed men with little reward, the communication between them and the white masters broke down. Now that the white slaveholders were on their own, it was only a matter of time before their brutal treatment of slaves would lead to an uprising. Once enslaved Africans received word of the revolution in France they too began demanding freedom. After years of civil unrest and vicious fighting, Haiti declared its freedom from France in January of 1804. What makes the Haitian Revolution more radical than the two before it is the fact that it was led by slaves.

Freedom of any type, whether political, economic, social, is a universal right that should be guaranteed to everyone. In the late 18th century revolutionary wars began in France and Haiti. These two revolutions, significant in their own ways, both were influenced from ideas sparked by the enlightenment. Though some similarities, the revolutions were different in other ways as well. In France the peasant and middle classes fought to overthrow their monarch, while the Haitian slaves wanted their freedom by trying to overthrow the French government which at that time was controlling them.

Scott’s parents originally named him Sam, but he decided to change it to Dred when his older brother named Dred died as a young man (“The Chronology of an Era”). No one knows the exact date and place of Scott’s birth since he was a slave. Not one person would have cared enough to note such details. Additionally, many believed his arrival as nothi... ... middle of paper ... ...was a brave hero in the eyes of all slaves by helping to eliminate slavery throughout the United States. He did not live to see the Civil War start at Fort Sumter in 1861, but did live a year in freedom.