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not detract from the brilliant military leadership and political astuteness provided by Toussaint
facilitated the ultimate victory of the blacks over the whites. Sonthonax's role, however, does
Louverture. In 1797, he became governor general of the colony and in the next four years
Spanish colony of Santo Domingo, and freed its small number of slaves. Saint Domingue was a
expelled all invading forces (including the French) and gave it a remarkably modern and new
democratic constitution. He also suppressed (but failed to eradicate) the revolt of the free
coloreds led by André Rigaud and Alexander Pétion in the south, captured the neighboring
governor general for life, much to the displeasure of Napoleon BonaparteSpanish colony of
Santo Domingo, and freed its small number of slaves. Saint Domingue was a new society with a
new political structure. As a reward, Toussaint Louverture made himself governor general for
life, much to the displeasure of Napoleon Bonapartemade himself governor general for life,
much to the displeasure of Napoleon Bonaparte
facilitated the ultimate victory of the blacks over the whites. Sonthonax's role, however, does
Louverture. In 1797, he became governor general of the colony and in the next four years
Spanish colony of Santo Domingo, and freed its small number of slaves. Saint Domingue was a
expelled all invading forces (including the French) and gave it a remarkably modern and new
democratic constitution. He also suppressed (but failed to eradicate) the revolt of the free
coloreds led by André Rigaud and Alexander Pétion in the south, captured the neighboring
governor general for life, much to the displeasure of Napoleon BonaparteSpanish colony of
Santo Domingo, and freed its small number of slaves. Saint Domingue was a new society with a
new political structure. As a reward, Toussaint Louverture made himself governor general for
life, much to the displeasure of Napoleon Bonapartemade himself governor general for life,
much to the displeasure of Napoleon Bonaparte
The crucial link then, between the metropolitan revolution and the black revolution in Saint Domingue seems to reside in the
conjunctural and complementary elements of a self-determined, massive slave rebellion, on the one hand, and the presence in the
colony of a practical abolitionist in the person of Sonthonax, on the other.
Such "conjunctural and complementary elements" did not appear elsewhere in the Americas—not even in the neighboring French
colonies of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
The reality of a semi-politically free Saint-Domingue with a free black population ran counter to the grandiose dreams of Napoleon to
reestablish a viable French-American empire. It also created what Anthony Maingot has called a "terrified consciousness" among the
rest of the slave masters in the Americas. Driven by his desire to restore slavery and disregarding the local population and its leaders,
Napoleon sent his brother-in-law General Charles Victor Emmanuel Leclerc with about 10,000 of the finest French troops in 1802 to
accomplish his aim. It was a disastrously futile effort. Napoleon ultimately lost the colony, his brother-in-law, and most of the 44,000
troops eventually sent out to conduct the savage and bitter campaign of reconquest. Although Touissant was treacherously spirited
away to exile and premature death in France, the independence of Haiti was declared by his former lieutenant, now the new governor
general, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, on January 1, 1804. Haiti, the Caribbean, and the Americas would never be the same as before the
slave uprising of 1791.
Puerto Rico. As Alfred Hunt has shown, Haitian emigrants also profoundly affected American language, religion, politics, culture,
Puerto Rico. As Alfred Hunt has shown, Haitian emigrants also profoundly affected American language, religion, politics, culture,
cuisine, architecture, medicine, and the conflict over slavery, especially in Louisiana. Most of all, the revolution deeply affected the
psychology of the whites throughout the Atlantic world. The Haitian Revolution undoubtedly accentuated the sensitivity to race, color,
and status across the Caribbean.
and status across the Caribbean.
Among the political and economic elites of the neighboring Caribbean states, the example of a black independent state as a viable
alternative to the Maroon complicated their domestic relations. The predominantly non-white lower orders of society might have
admired the achievement in Haiti, but they were conscious that it could not be easily duplicated. "Haiti represented the living proof of
the consequences of not just black freedom," wrote Maingot, "but, indeed, black rule. It was the latter which was feared; therefore,
the former had to be curtailed if not totally prohibited." The favorable coincidence of time, place, and circumstances that produced a
Haiti failed to materialize again. For the rest of white America, the cry of "Remember Haiti" proved an effective way to restrain
exuberant local desires for political liberty, especially in slave societies. Indeed, the long delay in achieving Cuban political
independence can largely be attributed to astute Spanish metropolitan use of the "terrified consciousness" of the Cuban Creoles to a
scenario like that in Saint Domingue between 1789 and 1804. Nevertheless, after 1804, it would be difficult for the local political and
economic elites to continue the complacent status quo of the mid-eighteenth century. Haiti cast an inevitable shadow over all slave
societies. Antislavery movements grew stronger and bolder, especially in Great Britain, and the colonial slaves themselves became
increasingly more restless. Most important, in the Caribbean, whites lost the confidence that they had before 1789 to maintain the
slave system indefinitely. In 1808, the British abolished their transatlantic slave trade, and they dismantled the slave system between
1834 and 1838. During that time, free non-whites (and Jews) were given political equality with whites in many colonies. The French
abolished their slave trade in 1818, although their slave system, reconstituted by 1803 in Martinique and Guadeloupe, limped on until
1848. Both British and French imperial slave systems—as well as the Dutch and the Danish—were dismantled administratively. The
same could be said for the mainland Spanish-American states and Brazil. In the United States, slavery ended abruptly in a disastrous
civil war. Spain abolished slavery in Puerto Rico (where it was not important) in 1873. The Cuban case, where slavery was extremely
important, proved far more difficult and also resulted in a long, destructive civil war before emancipation was finally accomplished in
1886. By then, it was not the Haitian Revolution but Haiti itself that evoked negative reactions among its neighbors.
Translated: for marxists.org by Mitch Abidor. author of the text was Dessalines’ secretary, Boisrond Tonerre. Dessalines was soon to have himself crowned emperor, and was assassinated in 1806. 1806. LIBERTY OR DEATH Gonaïves, January 1, 1804 Year I of Independence Today, January 1, 1804, the General in Chief of the Indigenous Army, accompanied by generals and army chiefs convoked in order to take measures tending to the happiness of the country: After having made known to the assembled generals his true intention of forever ensuring to the natives of Haiti a stable government — the object of his greatest solicitude, which he did in a speech that made known to foreign powers the resolution to render the country independent, and to enjoy the liberty consecrated by the blood of the people of this island; and, after having gathered their opinions, asked each of the assembled generals to pronounce a vow to forever renounce France; to die rather than to live under its domination; and to fight for independence with their last breath. The generals, imbued with these sacred principles, after having with one voice given their adherence to the well manifested project of independence, have all sworn before eternity and before the entire universe to forever renounce France and to die rather than live under its domination. Signed: Dessalines General-in-Chief Christophe, Pétion, Clerveaux, Vernet, Gabart Major Generals P.Romain, G. Gérin, L. Capois, Jean-Louis Francois, Férou, Cangé, G. Bazelais, Magloire Ambroise, J.J. Herne, Toussaint Brave, Yayou Brigadier generals Bonet, F. Paplier, Morelly, Chevalier, Marion Adjutants-general Magny, Roux Brigade Chiefs Chaperon, B. Goret, Macajoux, Dupuy, Carbonne, Diaquoiainé, Raphael, Malet, Derenoncourt Army officers Boisrond Tonnerre Secretary |
HAITIAN HISTORY
surrounding mountains and into the plains to the north; commercial districts are near the water, while residential neighborhoods are located on the hills above.
Port-au-Prince is teeming with life, music, art and commercePort-au-Prince is teeming with life, music, art and commerce
Port-au-Prince is teeming with life, music, art and commercePort-au-Prince is teeming with life, music, art and commerce
lived in neighbouring islands. Instead, the region served as a hunting ground. With the arrival of the Spaniards, the Amerindians were forced to become a
protectorate, and Bohechio, childless at death, was succeeded by his sister, Anacaona.
protectorate, and Bohechio, childless at death, was succeeded by his sister, Anacaona.
most of the guests killed. Anacaona, however, was spared, though only to hang her publicly some time later. Through violence and disease, the Spanish settlers most
of the guests killed. Anacaona, however, was spared, though only to hang her publicly some time later. Through violence and disease, the Spanish settlers decimated
the native population; Hispaniola lost a million inhabitants from 1492 - 1507.decimated the native population; Hispaniola lost a million inhabitants from 1492 - 1507.
protectorate, and Bohechio, childless at death, was succeeded by his sister, Anacaona.
protectorate, and Bohechio, childless at death, was succeeded by his sister, Anacaona.
most of the guests killed. Anacaona, however, was spared, though only to hang her publicly some time later. Through violence and disease, the Spanish settlers most
of the guests killed. Anacaona, however, was spared, though only to hang her publicly some time later. Through violence and disease, the Spanish settlers decimated
the native population; Hispaniola lost a million inhabitants from 1492 - 1507.decimated the native population; Hispaniola lost a million inhabitants from 1492 - 1507.
While useful in repelling Englishmen intent on encroaching on French territory, they were relatively independent, unresponsive to the orders from the colonial
administration and, a potential threat to the colonial government. Therefore, in the winter of 1707, Choiseul-Beaupré, the governor of the region sought to get rid of
what he saw as a threat. He insisted upon control of the hospital, and the flibustiers refused, considering this humiliating. They proceeded to close the hospital,
rather than cede control of it to the governor, and many of them became habitans, farmers -- the first stable European inhabitants in the region.
Though the elimination of the flibustiers as a group from Hôpital reinforced the authority of the colonial administration, it made the region a tastier target for the
English. In order to protect the area, a captain named de Saint-André sailed into the bay in a ship named Le Prince, just below the hospital. De Saint-André named
the area Port-du-Prince, though the port and the surrounding region continued to be known as Hôpital. (The ilots in the bay were already known as îlots du Prince)
administration and, a potential threat to the colonial government. Therefore, in the winter of 1707, Choiseul-Beaupré, the governor of the region sought to get rid of
what he saw as a threat. He insisted upon control of the hospital, and the flibustiers refused, considering this humiliating. They proceeded to close the hospital,
rather than cede control of it to the governor, and many of them became habitans, farmers -- the first stable European inhabitants in the region.
Though the elimination of the flibustiers as a group from Hôpital reinforced the authority of the colonial administration, it made the region a tastier target for the
English. In order to protect the area, a captain named de Saint-André sailed into the bay in a ship named Le Prince, just below the hospital. De Saint-André named
the area Port-du-Prince, though the port and the surrounding region continued to be known as Hôpital. (The ilots in the bay were already known as îlots du Prince)
While the first French presence in Hôpital, the region that was later to contain Port-au-Prince was that of the flibustiers, as the region became a real French colony,
the colonial administration began to worry about the continual presence of these pirates -- the flibustiers.
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