The Haitian Revolution

Saint Domingue’s Racial Breakdown in the 18 th Century 20,000-40,000 whites –3.5% - 7% 30,000 free people of color –5% –15,000 mulattos 2.5% 500,000 slaves –88%

What was the situation in Haiti before 1791? France controlled the western part of the Island. Near the end of the 18th century, 500,000 people, mainly of western African origin, were enslaved by the French. Colony of Saint Domingue is the most lucrative colony in the world. French plantation owners were watching the events of the French Revolution.

Pearl of the Antilles The colony of Saint-Domingue was the richest colony in the West Indies and probably the richest colony in the history of the world. Driven by slave labor and enabled by fertile soil and ideal climate, Saint- Domingue produced sugar, coffee, cocoa, indigo, tobacco, cotton, sisal as well as some fruits and vegetables for the motherland, France.

How did the social structure of Haitian Society contribute to the Haitian Revolution? The whites The free people of color The black slaves The maroons

Whites = 20,000 – Mostly French Planters Wealthy plantation owners Discontented with France No representation United in favor of slavery Petit Blancs Artisans, shop keepers, merchants, teachers Less independence- minded and more loyal to France Also approved of slavery

The Maroons Large group of run-away slaves who retreated deep into the mountains of Saint- Domingue.

What was Haitian Slavery Like? The conditions on the island were the worst in the world. The death rate of slaves was around 50%. Most died of overwork in the sugar, coffee and indigo plantations. Torture of slaves who resisted was common. Most slaves had memories of freedom in Africa.

Why did the Slaves Revolt in Haiti First? Because slaves outnumber whites 10 to 1, slaves were allowed to keep their African customs. Vodou (Vodon) was widely practiced among the slaves. This religion gave the slaves a form of cultural expression and rallying point for protest against their oppressors.

What is Vodou? Combined elements of Roman Catholicism and tribal religions of western Africa, particularly Benin. Worshiped a high god, Bon Dieu; ancestors or, more generally, the dead. Practiced in Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad, Brazil, and the southern United States, especially Louisiana

The French, like the British, figured out that it was cheapest to keep their slaves alive for 4-7 years and then replace them with new slaves from Africa rather than allow them to reproduce naturally.

The French, who were outnumbered 10:1 by their slaves in Haiti, lived in constant fear of a revolution. To prevent them from organizing resistance movements, the owners tried to keep slaves of the same tribes apart; forbade any meetings of slaves at all; tied slaves to their own plantations, and used brutal forms of punishment to keep the slaves under control.

One of the most frightening threats to disobedient slaves in the rest of the Americas was to threaten to sell them to San Domingue.

The colony of San Domingue was torn by numerous dissensions: many white planters wanted independence from Revolutionary France ( ). free persons of color, attracted to the concept of equality embedded in the doctrine of The Rights of Man, were struggling for full rights of citizenship. slaves, hearing the talk of human equality, and oppressed by inhuman conditions, revolted to improve their lot.

Boukman Dutty’s prayer “[I am Boukman Dutty, former slave and voodoo priest.] God who made the sun that shines on us from above, who makes the sea to rage and the thunder roll, this same great God from his hiding place on a cloud, hear me, all of you, is looking down upon us. He sees what the whites are doing. The God of the whites asks for crime; ours desires only blessings. But this God who is good directs you to vengeance! He will direct our arms, he will help us. Cast aside the image of the God of the whites who thirsts for our tears and pay heed to the voice of liberty speaking in our hearts….”

How did the Revolt Begin? The upper, middle, and Mulatto classes were at odds with each other. Black slaves rebelled against their owners in 1791 taking advantage of the situation. – Killed whites and destroyed plantations Boukman a Vodou priest led over one hundred thousand slaves against the vastly outnumbered and infinitely hated French

Toussaint L’Ouverture

What role did Toussaint L'Ouverture play? Former slave who wanted to ensure the revolution took hold. – 50 year old carriage driver. Began organizing slaves into military units. Did not participate in the original uprising. Organized the military to fight the French, Spanish, and English. – All three countries wanted to control the island and ensure failure of slave revolt.

Letter from Toussaint L’Ouverture 1793 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 to bring them into existence. Unite yourselves to us, brothers, and fight with us for the same cause, etc. Your very humble and very obedient servant. (signed) TOUSSAINT L’OUVERTURE, General of the Armies of the King, for the Public Good.

How did L'Ouverture beat the French, Spanish, and English? Joined forces with the Spanish army against the French. – rose to high rank within the Spanish army. When France abolished slavery, he switched sides. – Promoted to General in the French Army. Toussaint Louverture ruled the colony as the French governor-general. Forced the British troops to withdraw. – Defeated a mulatto group in the south in a bloody race war.

What happened to L'Ouverture? Liberated the entire island from slavery but still demanded the production of sugar and coffee. – Wanted to rebuild the French/Haitian economy. Napoleon sought to return Saint Domingue to French control and reinstate slavery. Sent French force to recapture the island. – L’Ouverture is captured and imprisoned in France.

How did Haiti gain its independence? Jean-Jacques Dessalines lead a revolt following the capture of L’Ouverture. Horrific war broke out where both sides resorted to mass murder. – Haitians killed all Europeans and French killed all blacks. Because France could not re-supply their troops and suffered fever in their camps, Haiti wins the war in November 1803.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines

Assignment: Haitian Declaration and Coat of Arms You are a non-white Saint Domingan (Haitian) in Type a letter to France declaring your country’s demands or independence. –Your letter must refer to conditions, and include at least 3 rights discussed during the enlightenment or other revolutions studied in class. –Keep in mind that you are trying to persuade French assemblymen, who are white and middle-class. –Your letter must include the date (1791), a greeting, and a salutation. –You must also create a coat of arms that symbolizes the New Saint-Domingue (it must be neat, colorful, include 5 symbols, with explanations on the back and a motto).

Example To the National Assembly of France: We the people of Saint-Domingue demand our independence from the tyranny of your rule. Long have you been on our soil and led our people in your ways. No longer. We declare our right to rule ourselves without influence from other nations or people. We know what is best for our people, and seek to follow our own ways. Our time together is at an end, no longer will we meekly comply with your governors, it is to your advantage to leave now. We vastly outnumber you and will cause you much damage. We declare our right to liberty, equality, religious freedom, and freedom from oppression. Our people cry out under the… A humble servant of the people of Lynnwood Ms. Russell

Without control of the crown jewel of its planned empire, France saw the Louisiana territory as a useless drain on its resources. Needing money for his renewed war with England, Napoleon sold the vast Louisiana territory to the United States on April 30, 1803, for about four cents an acre. With this abrupt act, France removed itself as a power in the Western Hemisphere. What on earth does this all have to do with the Louisiana Purchase?

Haiti’s Economy after the Revolution In 1804, Haiti's economy was dependent on agricultural exports, primarily sugar, which required plantation production and thus coercive forms of labor. The leaders of the Haitian Revolution immediately recognized that they needed to restart their economy, which had been devastated during fighting with the French. Haiti needed money, not only to feed its own people but also to support a strong military that could protect the young country's independence against the very real threat of invasion. (French war ships remained in Haitian waters until 1825!)

Haiti’s “Independence Debt” Before Haiti was allowed to rejoin the world economy, the European powers made it pay an “independence debt” to the French slave owners who were expelled from Haiti during the Revolution and thus lost their plantations and- yes, get this- valuable slaves. So after winning their freedom from the French, Haitians essentially had to buy it from them too. (This is the only case I know of in history where the winners of a war have ever had to pay the losers simply because they won.) After resisting for 21 years, in 1825 Haiti finally capitulated to France's terms, and in exchange for diplomatic recognition they agreed to pay France 21 billion dollars in raparitions.

Haiti’s “Independence Debt” The debt was ten times Haiti's total revenue in 1825 and twice what the United States paid France in 1803 for the Louisiana Purchase, which contained seventy-four times more land. This debt was a HUGE burden on Haiti's economy, and it was not paid off until Some years, 80 percent of government revenue went towards debt service, at the expense of investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

U.S. Reaction to Haiti The United States played a major role in ostracizing Haiti from the international community. The U.S. blocked Haiti’s invitation to the Western Hemisphere Panama Conference in 1825, refused to recognize Haiti’s independence until 1862, and did not establish diplomatic relations until 1886.

"Le Negre Marron" (The Black Maroon), Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 1970