The Haitian Revolution

What was the situation in Haitibefore 1791?

• France controlled the western part of the Island.• Near the end of the 18th century, 500,000 to

700,000 people, mainly of western African

origin, were enslaved by the French.• French plantation owners were watching the

events of the French Revolution.

What was Haitian slavery like?

• The conditions on the island were the worst in the world.• The death rate of slaves was around 50%.• Most died of overwork in the sugar, coffee, rice,

and indigo plantations.• Torture of slaves who resisted was common.• Most slaves had memories of freedom in Africa

Why did slaves revolt in Haiti first?

• Because slaves outnumber whites 10 to 1, slaves were allowed to keep their African customs.• Vodou (Vodon) was widely practiced among the slaves.• This religion gave the slaves a form of cultural expression and rallying point for

protest against their oppressors.

What is Vodou?

• Combined elements of Roman Catholicism

and tribal religions of western Africa, particularly Benin.

• Worship a high god, Bon Dieu; ancestors or, more generally, the dead.

• Practiced in Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad, Brazil,

and the southern United States, especially

Louisiana

How did the revolt begin?

• The upper, middle, and Mulatto classes

were at odds with each other.• Black slaves rebelled against their owners in

1791 taking advantage of the situation.

– Killed whites and destroyed plantations• Boukman led over one hundred thousand

slaves against the vastly outnumbered and

infinitely hated French

What role did ToussaintL'Ouverture play?

• Former slave who wanted to ensure the revolution took hold.

– 50 year old carriage driver.• Began organizing slaves into military units.• Did not participate in the original uprising.• Organized the military to fight the French, Spanish, and English. – All three countries wanted to control the island and ensure failure of slave revolt.

How did L'Ouverture beat theFrench, Spanish, and English?

• Joined forces with the Spanish army against the French. – rose to high rank within the Spanish army.• When France abolished slavery, he switched sides. – Promoted to General in the French Army.• Toussaint Louverture ruled the colony as the French governor-general.• Forced the British troops to withdraw. – Defeated a mulatto group in the south in a bloody race war.

What happened to L'Ouverture?

• Liberated the entire island from slavery but still demanded the production of sugar and coffee. – Wanted to rebuild the French/Haitian economy.• Napoleon sought to return Saint Domingue to French control and reinstate slavery.• Sent French force to recapture the island. – L’Ouverture is captured and imprisoned in France.

How did Haiti gain itsindependence?

• Jean-Jacques Dessalines lead a revolt following the capture of L’Ouverture.• Horrific war broke out where both sides resorted to mass murder. – Haitians killed all Europeans and French killed all blacks.• Because France could not re-supply their troops, Haiti will win the war in November 1803.