THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

Goals for today: After this lesson, students will be able to identify the causes and events that led to the revolution in Saint-Domingue.

Bell-ringer: What feelings does this picture elicit? As we continue studying revolutions, try and think of the similarities and differences between the French Revolution and the Haitian Revolution.

Haiti/St. Domingue Dominican Republic Entire Island: Hispaniola USA

Today, Haiti is seen as one of the most impoverished countries by the United Nations. It is the poorest country in the Americas as measured by the Human Development Index. The government is arguably unstable. In 2004, President Aristide was overthrown by the people. In January 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck – destroying its capital and largest city Port-au- Prince. Over 220,000 were killed and the Presidential palace, Parliament and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed.

Haiti wasn’t always so poor, however. In fact, at one time, it was the wealthiest colony in the New World, bringing large profits to the European powers and having numerous natural resources! Back then, the area now known as Haiti was called Saint-Domingue. So, how did it fall? And why are we studying it during our chapter on Revolutions? What makes LARGE empires FALL ? First, we have to look at a little bit of history….

Pre-1600s Saint-Domingue (the western third of Hispaniola) was discovered by Christopher Columbus for the Spanish. Thousands of slaves (gen de colour = people of color) were shipped from Africa to Hispaniola. In 1644, sugar cane was introduced to the island  great economic revolution = $$$$$$. Saint-Domingue was the wealthiest, most resource rich, most valuable colony of its time!

1700s After a war between France and Europe (The Nine Years’ War), France was given Saint-Domingue by the Spanish. Saint-Domingue was so wealthy that it supplied half of Europe with sugar, coffee and cotton.

: Things start to change. 1.French revolution occurs. 2.Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen is written. a.People take Locke, Hobbes & Rousseau’s ideas and make them into actual governments. BUT not everyone gets rights. The gen de colour (people of color) in Saint-Domingue were promised citizenship from the French government, but they did not get it. So just like the 3 rd estate in France, violence ERUPTED. Questions?

As people became angry in France…

The slaves started to revolt in Saint-Domingue (soon to be Haiti)… The slaves started to revolt in Saint-Domingue (soon to be Haiti)…

How would the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen influence a revolt in Saint-Domingue? Think about these two excerpts: 1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may only be founded upon the general good. 2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptibly rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.

In August 1791, voodoo magic… Boukman led a voodoo ceremony which ignited a slave revolt, known as the Boukman Rebellion, which sparked the Haitian Revolution.

More on this ceremony Voodoo was an important part of their culture, religion and identity. In August 1791, Boukman presided over a ceremony as a priest and prophesied that the slaves would be leaders of a resistance movement and revolt that would free the slaves of Saint-Domingue. An animal was sacrificed, an oath was taken, and Boukman and the priestess asked the listeners to take revenge against their French oppressors. According to the Encyclopedia of African Religion, "Blood from the animal, and some say from humans as well, was given in a drink to the attendees to seal their fates in loyalty to the cause of liberation of Sainte-Domingue.” A week later, 1800 plantations had been destroyed and 1000 slaveholders killed. In August 1791, Boukman presided over a ceremony as a priest and prophesied that the slaves would be leaders of a resistance movement and revolt that would free the slaves of Saint-Domingue. An animal was sacrificed, an oath was taken, and Boukman and the priestess asked the listeners to take revenge against their French oppressors. According to the Encyclopedia of African Religion, "Blood from the animal, and some say from humans as well, was given in a drink to the attendees to seal their fates in loyalty to the cause of liberation of Sainte-Domingue.” A week later, 1800 plantations had been destroyed and 1000 slaveholders killed.

So now that the slave revolt was starting…they needed a leader: Toussaint L’Ouverture became seen as the leader of the Haitian Revolution. He was a former slave (for 50 years), but became a brilliant self- educated general, defeating the British, Spanish and French.

Within ten days after Boukman’s voodoo ceremony, slaves took control of the entire Northern Province. They sought revenge on their white masters through ‘pillage, rape, torture, mutilation and death.’ Over 100,000 slaves joined the revolt and killed at least 4,000 whites and burned or destroyed thousands of sugar or coffee plantations. Unfortunately, the revolution will not end until 1804… TheRevolutionhas begun.

And from here on out, Saint-Domingue was in revolution (1791).

Choose your activity. Be creative! 1.Draw a short cartoon about what you have learned about the Haitian Revolution so far. Draw and caption as many frames as you can – be creative. 2.If you are like me and can’t draw stick figures, there is a timeline on the back of the worksheet and there are key terms below – place the key terms in order of where you think they would go. For each item, give one sentence as to why it was important. You should be able to do at least five. OR To jot your memories…here are some key words/phrases/events: Slave trade, Sugar Cane, French, Boukman, Declaration of Rights of Man, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Hispaniola, Voodoo, Spanish, Storming of the Bastille To jot your memories…here are some key words/phrases/events: Slave trade, Sugar Cane, French, Boukman, Declaration of Rights of Man, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Hispaniola, Voodoo, Spanish, Storming of the Bastille

That’s all for now, folks: Complete your exit ticket before leaving. Turn in your cartoon/timeline before leaving, as well! Thank you for letting me be your student teacher! I will miss you all!