Historical Background

Context of the Haitian Revolution

During the 18th century, European countries attempted to grow economically through colonialism and the use of slavery. One of the most prominent examples of this was the island of Saint-Domingue, which is where modern day Haiti is located. Prior to the French, the Spanish had control of the island and took in African slaves to mine for gold and cultivate sugar, but were eventually succeeded by the French. After some time, Saint-Domingue had become one of the most profitable colonies for the French and produced massive amounts of sugar. The conditions of slavery within Saint-Domingue were brutal, with 50% of slaves dying within a year from when they arrived from Africa due to the harsh conditions and diseases such as malaria. During this time, Haitian society was largely characterized by conflict and unrest caused by racial tension. It was estimated that there were around 32,000 European colonists, 24,000 people of mixed African and European descent, and 500,000 African slaves. Many slaves who escaped were referred to as Maroons, and often used harsh guerilla tactics to force their way out of slavery, but there lacked a large scale rebellion that lead to governmental change.

Before the French revolution even occurred, there were many social struggles in Haiti, with the three main social classes being black, white and mulatto. It is well known that the whites did not get along with either of the other two social groups, however, it is also true that even the mulattoes and black people were often in conflict, because the mulattoes were sent to Europe and taught a white-gentrified education. When the bloody French Revolution started in 1789, it was an inspiration to the slaves in Haiti, who made up the majority of the population. As more and more plantations’ slaves’ revolted, Toussaint L’Overture became a leader within the rebels, signifying the end of the individual revolts and the start of the Revolution. Bois Camöin was the first meeting of the slave revolt that was held secretly in the woods with old voodoo rituals taking place. From there, the revolts and rebelling by the slaves intensify. In 1793, France proclaimed that all free blacks and mulattoes were to be considered citizens, which helped to urge the rebels onward to gaining their freedom, as well as angering the white people in Haiti. Later that same year, British troops landed in Haiti to help the white plantation owners gain back control, while the Spanish troops arrived to help aid the revolutionaries. Then, finally, in February of 1794, France declares that slavery is abolished. This causes the leader of the revolutionaries, Toussaint L’Overture, to disregard the Spaniards’ help and to instead side with the French once again. After this revolution, the Spanish forces left peacefully in 1795 after creating an agreement with France, but the same cannot be said for the British forces. For three more years, the British fought alongside the white people of Haiti to ultimately fail to control the island once more due to losing ⅗ of their troops to disease. Once the British leave Haiti, L'Ouverture is able to gain all control of Haiti’s new leadership. Although that should have been the end, for the next few years there was conflict within Haiti. From 1799-1800, the War of Knives, as it has been coined, occured between the North (led by L'Ouverture) and the South (led by Riguard), with the North ultimately winning due to Toussaint L’Ouverture. After winning against the South, Toussaint L’Overture is able to capture the East, allowing him to rule over all of Haiti, and free slaves on the entire island. This displeased Napoleon, who wanted the French to have control over the island, which L’Ouverture was not handing over. This led to Napoleon’s brother-in-law, Leclerc, heading over to Haiti to try and gain control back by force. Although the French get Toussaint, Dessalines is able to rally the Haitian people to become their new leader and chase the French out. January 1st, 1804, is the first day of true independence for Haiti. That is when the name was changed from Saint Domingue to what we all know it as – Haiti.

After the Haitian Revolution the country itself was in economic and political turmoil. Without the previously established plantation system Haiti had no system to help reset their economy. Not to mention it was nearly impossible to ask newly freed slaves to go back to the plantations and do that same work again. Most of the world was also against an independent slave state, and as a result other nations refused to buy the goods Haiti produced. Then came a revolving door of politicians and political systems. After generations of instability, in 1986, the Haitians set up a republic that is in place today. The Haitian government would go on to honor their roots by putting the statue of the first escaped slave in front of their government building in San Domingo.