Haitian Revolution Timeline

Egalité for All Liberty Equality Fraternity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b69lS3aP1a4&feature=related

1400s Over a million Taino/Arawak people lived on the island of “Hayti”

Hispaniola 1492 Columbus landed on the island and named it “La Española” or “Hispaniola” 1517 Due to Spanish conquest and enslavement, the Taino/Arawak population was reduced to 60,000 people

Spain ordered that 15,000 Negro slaves be shipped from Africa to Hispaniola. Bartolomé de las Casas argued that this would relieve the stresses which were killing the native peoples in the Americas. By 1592, fewer than 200 Taino/Arawak people remained on Hispaniola 1577

1600s 1644 Sugar cane was introduced to the island marking the beginning of a “great economic revolution” (Korngold, 1944) Haiti became the wealthiest, most resource-rich, most valuable colony of its age.

1697 Through the Treaty of Ryswick, France gained control of one-third of Hispaniola, and named it Saint Domingue Trade began between Saint Domingue and the 13 British Colonies (the future U.S.)

“The Pearl of Antilles” 1789 - "Saint Domingue had attained a height of prosperity not surpassed in the history of European colonies. It supplied half of Europe with sugar, coffee and cotton." (Korngold, 1944)

1700s 1790 (one year after the French Revoution) A Saint-Domingue mulatto delegation traveled to the French Assembly to request French rights for mulattos but were refused. Oct - Dec Vincent Ogé led a failed revolt and was later executed.

1791 May French Assembly gave full political rights to mulattos and free blacks. September White planters in Saint Domingue objected to granting citizenship to free blacks --> Violence erupted!

1791 August 22, 1791 Boukman and Cecile Fatiman led a vodou ceremony. This ceremony ignited a slave revolt, known as the Boukman Rebellion which sparked the Haitian Revolution (see Boukman’s prayer) http://thelouvertureproject.org/index.php?title=Boukman

Haitian Revolution: 1791 - 1803 Toussaint L’ouverture emerged as the leader of the Haitian Revolution A former slave, he became a brilliant general and capable administrator, defeating British, Spanish, and French troops, emancipating the slave population, and overseeing the country's initial attempts at reforming its political and social structure.

1801 After years of battle and intense negotiations with the Spain, France, and the U.S., Louverture conquered all of Hispaniola and abolished slavery July 8th, 1801, Louverture signed the Haitian Constitution

1802 French emperor, Napoleón Bonaparte, sent his brother-in-law, Victor Leclerc to Saint Domingue to re-establish slavery Louverture wrote a letter to Commander-in-Chief Jean-Jacques Dessalines asking him to burn down Port-au-Prince and stop the advance of Leclerc's troops sent to reestablish slavery --> The revolution’s fiercest battle ensued!

1802-1805 April 1802 November 18, 1803 November 28, 1803 Dessalines’ army defeated France November 28, 1803 Proclamation of Independence January 1, 1804 Saint-Domingue became the Republic of Hayti (the name of the Island under Taino rule) May 20, 1805 Dessalines signed the Haitian Constitution of 1805 April 1802 Louverture and Dessalines agreed to a truce with Leclerc Louverture was deceived and imprisoned (He died on April 7,1803,)

1825 King Charles X of France recognized the country of Haiti in return for 150 million francs in gold, payment for France’s losses due to the abolition of slavery in St. Domingue/Haiti. Haiti was the only country in which the ex-slaves themselves were expected to pay a foreign government for their liberty By 1900 Haiti was was spending 80% of its national budget on repayments By taking loans from the United States, Germany and France, Haiti was able to pay off its debt in 1947