Haiti began as the French colony Saint-Domingue. The island was filled with plantations and slaves to work on them. Almost a decade and a half after its settlement, this colony paved the way for many changes throughout the French empire and many other slave nations. Through its difficult struggle, we examine whether the slave revolt of Saint-Domingue that began in the late 16th century was justifiable and whether its result of creating the free nation of Haiti was a success. The slave insurrection began in August 1791 in Saint-Domingue. Though many conflicts flared in Martinique and Guadeloupe a few years prior, they were not as well coordinated and massive. Not expecting so many to come and attack at once, white planters were overwhelmed. A fifty-thousand French force of experienced soldiers arrives on the shores of Saint-Domingue. Not ready to give up their freedom and return to their previous servitude, the Africans of the colony defend themselves. Assisted by yellow fever and other diseases, they are a force to be trifled with. By November of the following year, the French surrender and within three months Jean-Jacques Dessalines declares independence from France and the new nation of Haiti is created. Frederick Douglass attributes their great success to the Negros themselves and their manhood, courage, and military skill in his Lecture on Haiti in 1893. He even solidifies these claims by pointing out how their intelligence and bravery has conserved their independence since 1804, almost ninety years prior to his lecture. By this time, Haiti has been around for almost a century and her supporters and opponents debate whether the Haitian revolution was a success or not. The citizens are labeled as lazy and superstitious, stereotyped in that neat little box with no room for movement. Douglass agrees that they can be a bit lazy and are ignorant, but they are not simple idle at all times. By this time, Haiti prospers on a coffee economy and continue to import and export goods from within her borders. Its important to recognize that this nation and its citizens were the first to fight and win their emancipation. The slave revolution in the former French colony of Saint-Domingue was a historic event that brought about universal liberties as other nations followed suit. In solidarity the slaves took up arms and fought until their chains broken. This should vindicate Haiti, at least in the eyes of Douglass. He believes that even though she has not yet met her full potential, she will become a
This particular revolution was meant to rid the country of its dependency upon slavery; however, it did very little to procure the exact solution that the natives of this country wanted. It’s stated more than once in this story that a true and honest living is not easily come by for any native of Haiti and they earn very little money when a job is available. People are paid an insubstantial wage, live in shantytowns, and often times go to bed with their stomachs distended from a voracious and unforgiving hunger. In The Norton Mix Introduction to Literature, Danticat shows these significant consequences of the Revolution by stating that when it got really bad for the family, they would boil ground sugar cane so that it would get rid of the hunger pangs that often tormented the children of the poor (p. 229).
The 1805 Constitution of Haiti is a document that first declares Haiti’s independence from any colonizing power. It declares that the people of Haiti are free and will forever be free, which in many ways is similar to the list of grievances in the United States Declaration of Independence. The people of Haiti would not be subjected to living and working for a king or emperor. The Constitution then goes on to list the rights that Haitian Citizens will have under their new found government. In these rights they use the same language as the United States Constitution, which was made popular by the period of enlightment. This suggest that Haiti was capable of creating a civilized society, which counteracted the notion that blacks were incapable of creating and maintaining civilized society.
Haiti is one of the most unusual countries in Latin America as it is the only French-speaking nation in the Caribbean as well as the first to receive its independence. Haiti’s most unique characteristic, however, is in regard to race. “The population of Haiti on the eve of the French Revolution was made up of over 90% black slaves, with whites numbering only about 40,000 out of a total population of 519,000” . This large disparity can be explained due to the fact that, at one time, Haiti was one of the wealthiest places in the world during French colonization. At the time of the French Revolution in 1789, the sugar production of Saint Dominique exceeded that of all the British West Indies, and on the eve of the revolution the colony accounted for more than one-third of the foreign commerce of France. “Saint-Domi...
The French Revolutions ideology of freedom and equality lead to the Haitian revolution in Saint Domingue. Saint Domingue was one of the richest colonies in the entire world during this time. It made a big profit for France, but the rules were also unfair. They favored only to the slave owners and whites. This is why many slaves wanted to revolt. Before the revolution, Saint Domingue was a major producer of coffee and sugar.
This article explores Haitian Independence in terms of a war for national liberation. The disassociation from white governance left a window of opportunity for long-term nat...
Although, after the revolution, both France and Haiti’s economy was negatively impacted, as a result of the violent rebellions that occurred in order to acquire independence. France was required to overthrow their own government, which was an internal force, however Haiti was required to overthrow an external force, which was France. Nevertheless, both applied violence in their movements and were influenced by significant leaders who enabled the success of the revolution, as they desired political equality within society. Plus, each possessed the same government after the revolutions took place. Thus, even though the French Revolution and Haitian Revolution occurred chronologically in this era of changing society, they both possess distinct aspects, as well as certain similarities.
War is one of the few constants throughout human history. It is a method of self-defense or of establishing natural rights or of resolving issues not rectified through the use of diplomatic methods of peace. It has reached every nation and every time period, and despite what some may believe it is a morally justifiable action.
The impacts of the Haitian Revolution on America could still be seen many years after the battles had ended. Unfortunately, Americans in the late eighteenth century had seen how the malicious treatment of slaves by their owners led to the revolt. Due to this, American slave owners were taught how to control and manipulate slavery just to the point of indecency, without crossing the thin line of intolerance, that is, until the American Civil War. Nonetheless, these lessons prolonged the era of slavery in the Free World, largely affecting the nation’s overall history. Moreover, Thomas Jefferson began to sever trade ties with Haiti in 1804, claiming they were not entitled to equal freedom from France as America had won from Britain. He succeeded in this cut, and by 1806, The U.S and Haiti had broken trade connections, which further bruised the Haitian economy after the revolution. In an online PBS article entitled, “Douglas Egerton on the Haitian Revolution, Toussaint L'Ouverture, and Jefferson ,” Douglas A. Egerton, professor in the Le Moyne College of History, describes Jefferson as arguing that “this was an example of
Early in the nineteenth century rebellion against European authority broke out in Latin America. First, slaves on the island of Haiti revolted against their French masters. Led by former slave Toussaint L'Overture the Haitians defeated France making Haiti the...
The Haitian revolution was the a major event that affected European colonialism throughout the New world. The start of the Haitian revolution was the imbalance in Haitian society, the slaves made up the vast majority of the population and were constantly being treated with disrespect. They were deprived of economic ability and social equality. Due to the poor working conditions, lack of protection and basic living opportunities, and increasing segregation and ability for self government. The French Revolution began around 1787 and ended in 1799. During this time period, the fight to end slavery was a very big controversy. The Haitian Revolution also showed similar characteristics to
...y afraid at first but finds out that there are many ex-slaves willing to take a stand and risk their lives to help their own. Douglass realizes that with the help from the ex-slaves he could also help his fellow slaves.
Haiti has been greatly impacted by its colonization and its resourceful environment. In 1804, Haiti became the second nation to become independent from the Americas (HISTORY, 2014)...
The San Domingo revolution led to the abolition of slavery, independence of Haiti from France and the proclamation of a black republic. However, unlike many historians, CLR James in his work, The Black Jacobins, does not depict the struggle for independence as merely a slave revolt which happened to come after the French Revolution. He goes beyond providing only a recount of historical events and offers an intimate look at those who primarily precipitated the fall of French rule, namely the black slaves themselves. In doing so, James offers a perspective of black history which empowers the black people, for they are shown to actually have done something, and not merely be the subject of actions and attitudes of others.
In the night of August 22, 1791, which initiated the Haitian Revolution, Dutty Boukman, a slave and religious leader gathered a gang of slaves and uttered one of the most important prayers in the Black Atlantic religious thought.1 The prayer embodies the historical tyranny of oppression and suffering, and the collective cry for justice, freedom, and human dignity of the enslaved Africans at Saint-Domingue. The Guy who is not happy with the situation tha...
After reading both Laurent Dubois’s Avengers of the new world and The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, both sources appear to educate the modern world on slavery and how their masters empowered them. In the Haitian Revolution, Dubois relied on printed sources and his personal summaries on scholarly research to teach the modern world on slavery. He also talks about how the plantation owners work slave to dead and replace them with new ones for their own interest. Dubois also mentioned on how the slave masters tried to prevent slaves from knowing human rights. On the other hands, a former slave, Frederick Douglass shared his experience in the plantation. Douglass also talks about on how he escaped to freedom and continue to fight for the abolishment of slavery. His personal experience as a slave was used to teach the