Haitian Revolution

Important People  Toussaint L’Ouverture joined rebels and helped lead the revolution.  Whites owned the slaves and were petit blancs, artisans, shopkeepers, and teachers.  There were important free blacks, slave blacks, and runaway blacks.  Other important people Biassou Jeannot Oge

Important People Cont.  Commissioner Leger-Felicite  He abolished slavery in this colony.  Jean-Jaques Bessalines  He declared St. Domingue independent.  Boukman  He led 50,000 slaves in the Plain du Nord.

Causes of Revolution o The slaves lacked political and social equality with the whites. o The slaves were not being treated the way that they should. o Planters wanted independence, but still supported slavery. o Slaves wanted to rebel against white slave owners. o Slaves were far outnumbered by the dominant whites.

Timeline of Revolution  March 9, Oge and Chavames were hung.  August 14, They had a voodoo service.  August 21, A full sprung slave rebellion.  April 4, The king signed the decree, providing citizenship for property owning free men of color.  L’ouverture and his army took control of colony.  Declaring independence from France and a massacre of french colonies and families.  L’ouverture taken and sent to France to be put in jail. He was deceased there.

Primary Document  Simultaneously there were constant slave rebellions. The slaves never willing submitted to their status and never quit fighting it. The slave owners, both white and people of color, feared the slaves and knew that the incredible concentration of slaves required exceptional control. This, in part, accounts for the special harshness and cruelty of slavery in St. Domingue. The owners tried to keep slaves of the same tribes apart. They forbade and meetings of slaves at all. They tied slaves rigorously to their own plantations, brutally punished the slightest manifestation of non-cooperation and employed huge teams of harsh overseers.

Outcome of Revolution  Social: Classes were based upon race. The country was named Haiti. Slavery is abolished so that social distinctions are eliminated.  Political: Haiti became a dictatorship. The leader was Emperor Jacques.  Economic: Haiti was the richest colony in the history of the world. They were driven by slave labor and enabled by fertile soil and ideal climate. St. Domingue produced sugar, coffee, cocoa, indigo, tobacco, and cotton.  Misc: Only successful slave revolt in history!!!

Analysis  We thought that the revolution was successful. The slaves overcame their obstacle of rebelling against the whites. In the end, they took over the colony and successfully accomplished their goal.