The Human Right of Freedsom in the Haitian and French Revolutions

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).

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

The late 18th century and early 19th century was a prominent time period in which the French Revolution and Haitian revolution occurred. Both revolutions were connected to each other such that they shared similar causes and consequences. Together, France and Haiti were angered by the inequality and unfair privileges that continued to appear in their societies. At the same time, they were inspired and hopeful of bringing the Enlightenment ideas into reality. Although they were able to accomplish most of what they fought for, such as the abolition of slavery, they still took part in bloody revolutions.

The previously mentioned “declaration for the rights of man” was written not only for France, but as an international guideline. The revolutionary idea of liberty for all was a desperate need for all of Saint Domingue, especially the slaves. Revolutionaries like Toussaint L’Overture adopted the ideas of the oppressed Third Estate to build their own revolutions against slave owners, and France

The Slave Revolution in the Caribbean Colonists in the eighteenth century created plantations that produced goods such as tobacco, cotton, indigo, and more importantly, sugar. These plantations required forced labor, and thus slaves were shipped from Africa to the new world. “The Caribbean was a major plantation that was a big source of Europe’s sugar, and increasing economic expansion. The French had many colonies, including its most prize possession Saint- Domingue (Haiti).” Life on the plantations of Saint- Domingue was very brutal and most of the salves who survived the journey to the New World died within a few years of their arrival (Slave Revolution 7). This brutal force used on the slaves caused the slaves to rebel.

In May 1971, the revolution started with the revolt of the slaves against the white settlers. The Haitian revolution changed the disputes about freedom and slavery, liberated people who fought for their freedom, and became the first black slave revolution won. The revolution started in 1791 and ended in 1804. In 1791 the revolution started in a revolt. The island that is now Haiti was a colony of one of the biggest colonist countries in the world, France.

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.

On the other hand, the French revolution was an indirect result of the American Revolution. The French were trying to cause a true revolution they were not just fighting for freedom but instead they were fighting for human rights and to over throw and remove the monarchy; also they were struggling to gain social equality among the masses. There is a strong similarity of how and what each governmen... ... middle of paper ... ...es that desire freedom from an overpowering government. Sadly France did not know what voting was because a king all their lives had governed them. In the end they achieved completely the opposite as the American Revolution; the French Revolution resulted in changes such as democracy and nationalism, the defeat of feudalism, the Declaration of Rights of Man, which all present people live by that, and France gained religious tolerance.

Toussaint then later in 1789 led the slaves out of slavery defeating the French. The French were shocked by this action from their colony; they also were worried that their moneymaking colony was going to rebel. Toussaint and his army got off to a fast start and never slowed down defeating the French when they sent military to control the rebellion. Toussaint was a genius by staying loyal to France as he built his army and made allies ... ... middle of paper ... ...thought the war was over and the Haitians were going to throw in the towel but they rallied together under Dessalines to win their freedom from France and become the second colony ever to become an independent nation. The Haitians beat the French proving that a revolution can be done to people and winning their freedom.

Their fears were quickly given life when Toussaint Louverture took control of the slaves and led the most successful slave uprising in history. The American Civil War, much like the Haitian Revolution, consisted of oppression, violence, and inequality towards slaves. Toussaint Louverture’s bold display of leadership during the Haitian Revolution influenced antebellum America, especially abolitionist leaders such as John Brown to fight for the abolitionist cause. For decades after the rise and fall of Toussaint Louverture, historians from around the world have been intrigued with his raise to fame. Louverture went from being a slave himself, to commanding an army against the French in order to emancipate his brothers and sisters from slavery and create the independent nation of Haiti.