HAITIAN REVOLUTION

I. Introduction: Analyzing rebellions and wars of independence

What are the aims of the various 18th-19th-century rebellions: reform, social revolution, political independence?

II. Local Context

A. Rise of Wealthiest Caribbean Colony (St. Domingue)

1. 1695 transfer half of island from Spain to France
2. Rapid expansion of plantation economy in 18th century

a. 2/5 world sugar production
b. ½ world coffee production

3. Extreme exploitation of slaves

B. Population

1. Whites: minority (1789: 30,000)

a. small planter elite (grand blancs)
b . petits blancs: artisans etc.

2. Free People of Color

a . growing but still minority

1700: 600
1775: 7,000
1789: 28,000

b . some elite: owned 1/3 plantations (esp coffee), 1/4 slaves
c . faced racial discrimination

3. Slaves

a . rapid growth

1690: 3,000
1730: 80,000
1763: 206,000
1789: 466,000

b. large proportion of African-born

C . Slave Resistance

1. Marronage (escaped slave communities)
2. 1757 Conspiracy discovered before it broke out
3. 1780s: rumors that King of France support reform and "rights" for slaves

III. The Revolution 1789/91-1804

A. Responses to French Revolution (options: support revolution, royalism, independence)

1. Whites: “fraternity” (white brotherhood)

a. planter elite goals: freer trade and political representation
b. lower-class whites: protect racial privileges
c. initially tried to work within revolution
d. as revolution became more radical, many became royalist

2. Free People of Color: “equality”

a. main goal of equal rights: political representation
b. initially do not oppose slavery
c. 1790 revolt: crushed
d. later some would ally with slaves

3. Slaves: “liberty”

a. main goal: abolition of slavery
b. 1791 slave uprising
c. initially royalist (believed king more likely than local elites to support reform)
d. shift to support revolution when revolutionary assembly in Paris supported abolition

B. Shifts in French Policy: constant aim holding onto colony

1. Appease whites: allow local assembly (1789-90)
2. Free People of Color: gradually end racial discrimination through enfranchisement decrees (1790-92)
3. Slaves: move toward emancipation (1792-94)

C. Chronology of Events (see handout and below)

IV. Conclusions: Repercussions

A. Slave Revolts (20 in greater Caribbean between 1789-1832)

1. Coro, Venezuela (1795)
2 . Bahia, Brazil (1798)

B. Spanish American Independence–support in exchange for emancipation (Bolivar)

Question:

Why did this radical revolution occur in Haiti rather than somewhere else?

I.D. Terms:

French Revolution
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Sonthonax
Toussaint Louverture (a slave born in St. Domingue, manumitted, became chief leader of revolution until 1802)
Jean-Jacques Dessaline (had been a field slave; took over leadership from Louverture until death in 1806)
Henri Christophe (had been slave in supervisory position; became president--and later Emperor--of Hait in 1807)

Chronology:

1789: French Revolution and “Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen”
1790-92: French decrees regarding enfranchisement of people of color
1791: Slave uprising
1792: Arrival of French Commissioner Sonthonax
1793: Decree of emancipation (confirmed by National Assembly in 1794)
1794: Toussaint Louverture joined French
1795-98: War against British and Spanish troops
1799: Louverture in control of island
Napoleon came to power in France
1802: French Expedition to retake St. Domingue
Arrested Louverture and revoke emancipation
1804: Haiti independent

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