1. Haiti Slave Rebellion and Independence
By: Cory Wokasch and Brandon Ricke

2. Background St. Domingue - One of France’s most wealthiest colonies
From production of sugar, coffee, indigo, and cotton
Generated by enslaved workforce
Much of the white population in St. Domingue did not have representation in France
White population was around 40,000
Slave population around 500,000 (1789)
White Planters worried about a rebellion
Did the best to keep slaves in line with brutality

3. Start of Haitian Revolution
The Haiti Slave Rebellion was a successful anti-slavery and anti-colonial insurrection that took place in the French colony of Saint-Domingue.
This was a revolution started by the slaves of Haiti to gain freedom from France.
The Haiti Slave Rebellion lasted from

4. Important People Involved In the Haitian Slave Rebellion
Toussaint L’Ouverture
Best-known leader of the Haitian Revolution
Fought for Spain against France, and then for France against Spain
He was a slave until the age of 33
In a club known as Jacobin, which helped him gain political power
Worked as a mediator between the rebels and French throughout the early parts of the rebellion
His views changed midway through the rebellion from willing to bargain for better conditions of slavery to wanting to have it completely abolished

5. Toussaint (Cont.)
Became one of the main leaders of the rebellion in 1793
When Saint-Domingue became a free colony, the constitution proclaimed him governor for life.
“Brothers and friends, I am Toussaint Louverture; perhaps my name has made itself known to you. I have undertaken vengeance. I want Liberty and Equality to reign in St. Domingue. I am working to make that happen. Unite yourselves to us, brothers and fight with us for the same cause.
Your very humble and obedient servant, Toussaint Louverture.
General of the armies of the king, for the public good.”

6. Other Important People Involved With the Haitian Slave Rebellion
Vincent Ogé
A “quadroon”(one-quarter African- American, three-quarters French)
Came to Saint-Domingue as a free man
Started what is today known as the Ogé Revolt in 1790
His brutal execution in Le Cap in by being “broken on the wheel” caused the already dissatisfied slaves and free men of color to become even more angry.

7. Important Dates August 14, 1791 - Haitian Revolution begins
Bois Caïman ceremony - Voodoo ritual
Led by Dutty Boukman
Systematically start plantations on fire
August 30th, 1791
Slave force around 15,000
184 sugar plantations destroyed in North
Every plantation within 50 miles of capital is destroyed
September 21st, 1791
Colonial Assembly grants Mulattoes and free blacks citizenship
White planters object violently
Tensions in the colony rise
Later revoked - caused Mulatto population to take up arms in collaboration with slave rebellion

8. Important Dates (cont.)
November Boukman dies
First leader to die
Negotiations begin
By 1792, 1/3 of island is in rebel control
May Spain declares war on French
Mulattoes and free blacks in South join with Spain in open rebellion
June 20th, 1793
Le Cap is once again in flames
New decree is issued - any slave that joins the republican army is granted freedom
August 1793
Civic Commissioner Étienne Polverel declares certain slaves freedom
Léger-Félicité Sonthonax abolished all slavery in the north
Slaves now called “laborers” - earn minimal pay

9. Important Dates (cont.)
February 7th, New Work code is established
Requires owners to give slaves 1/3 of the plantations revenue
Does not ease discontent, resistance continues
Spring France has lost control of nearly all of the colony
May 6th, 1794
L’Ouverture joins French after the Spanish refuse to take steps in ending slavery
July 22nd, France and Spain sign a peace treaty ceding Saint Domingue to France
June Final withdrawal of Spanish forces from Hispaniola
October 1796
Power Struggles
L’Ouverture appointed commander-in-chief of Sonthonax’s army

10. Important Dates (cont.)
March The British surrender their fight for St. Domingue
April 1798
The french send in another official, Thomas Hedouville
Slaves view Hedouville’s actions as an attempt to reinstate slavery
New wave of insurrection breaks out
June 13th, L’Ouverture signs secret alliance with England and US
October Napoleon Bonaparte faces pressure to take down L’Ouverture
July Civil war breaks out
Between L’Ouverture and Riguad (Mulatto military leader)
French Revolution ends

11. Important Dates (cont.)
July Civil war ends
Riguad exiled
August 30th - L’ Ouverture is proclaimed the colony’s Supreme Commander-in- Chief
Set new policies to tradition plantation system
Attempts to restructure St. Domingue economy
Laborers see as reimposing slavery
July 8th, L’Ouverture send France a new constitution
Abolish slavery forever and equal rights for all
Not declaration of independence
France refuses constitution
General Victor-Emmanuel Leclerc sent to reimpose slavery

12. Important Dates (cont.)
October General Leclerc sails to St. Domingue
Brings 20,000 troops known as the “French Elites
Expected to re-establish power in 3 months
February Le Cap is once again set on fire
In anticipation of the European arrival
February 6th 1802
L’Ouverture sends word to leaders of colony that the Europeans are trying to re-impose slavery
First two weeks two thousand European troops hospitalized
¾ ill and wounded
Three weeks in 500 have died, and 1000 wounded

13. Important Dates (cont.)
April 1802
L’Ouverture surrenders after several defeats
Allows him to retire with his staff, retain his army ranks and functions, and retire to a place of his choosing
June 1802
Leclerc betrays his agreement with L’Ouverture
Arrests him and send him to France where he dies
August Bonaparte issues decree to re-establish slavery
Slaves organize mass resistance
Decimate Leclerc’s army with combined spread of diseases
General Rochambeau takes Leclerc’s place
Jean-Jacques Dessalines takes L’Ouverture’s place

14. Important Dates (cont.)
November 17th, General Rochambeau surrenders to Dessalines
After defeat at the Battle of Vertières
French accept defeat and evacuate forces
Lost 50,000 men in their efforts
January 1st - Dessalines proclaims Haiti’s independence
Became first independent colony in Latin America
Slavery abolished
Renamed Haiti
Rest of the French residents in Haiti are executed (around 4,000)

15. Impact Estimated Death toll French impose debt Haitans - 200,000
British - 45,000
White colonists - 25,000
French impose debt
Slave owners “losses” of property (slaves)
King Charles X demands Haiti to pay a “independence fee”
150m gold Francs (10 times Haiti’s annual revenue)
Threat of military attack
Haiti agree’s to pay
Forced to take loan from French bank with high interest and taxes
Haiti was still paying off 140 years after independence

16. Discussion Questions
In what ways do you think Haiti as a nation would be different had it not been for the Slave uprising?
Do you think internal factors such as class conflicts and population growth or external factors like international war between Spanish, French, and British had a bigger impact on the Haitian Revolution?

17. Sources http://library.brown.edu/haitihistory