Compare And Contrast Cuba And Haiti Revolutions
Haiti Revolts While Cuba Complies: How Revolutionary Movements Differ in Haiti and Cuba
Often the term “revolution” makes one think of the Revolutionary War in the American colonies. However, a revolution implies grand economic, political, and/or social change and the colonies’ standing in all three of these spheres remained relatively the same after the war was over. However, in their ‘backyard’ Saint Domingue (present day Haiti, but I will be referring to it by its colonial name unless speaking about it after its revolution) was on its way to a revolution and during the mid to late 1800s multiple wars were fought in Cuba for their independence from their colonial rulers. From logistical perspective, both attempts at revolution had several similarities. Both islands were under colonial rule; Saint Domingue overseen by France and Cuba by Spain. They also had agricultural economies driven by slave labor. In both of these nations, slaves fought against colonial rulers against France and Spain. Though there are these similarities, ultimately Saint Domingue (Haiti) succeeded in revolting (though not entirely, perhaps) did not finish their revolution and suffered many setbacks. Haiti was able to turn the previous system upside by having former slaves and people of mixed race hold and exercise …show more content…
The independence was revolutionary because those who came to be in power were former slaves and free people of mixed race. There were very few whites left since most of them had fled out of fear and Dessalines’ proclamation in 1804 stated “Never will any colonist of European set foot on this land as a master or proprietor. This resolution will henceforth be the foundation of our constitution”. Unfortunately Haiti was in a tough spot after going through thirteen years of war and losing about half its population. Another
Often the term “revolution” makes one think of the Revolutionary War in the American colonies. However, a revolution implies grand economic, political, and/or social change and the colonies’ standing in all three of these spheres remained relatively the same after the war was over. However, in their ‘backyard’ Saint Domingue (present day Haiti, but I will be referring to it by its colonial name unless speaking about it after its revolution) was on its way to a revolution and during the mid to late 1800s multiple wars were fought in Cuba for their independence from their colonial rulers. From logistical perspective, both attempts at revolution had several similarities. Both islands were under colonial rule; Saint Domingue overseen by France and Cuba by Spain. They also had agricultural economies driven by slave labor. In both of these nations, slaves fought against colonial rulers against France and Spain. Though there are these similarities, ultimately Saint Domingue (Haiti) succeeded in revolting (though not entirely, perhaps) did not finish their revolution and suffered many setbacks. Haiti was able to turn the previous system upside by having former slaves and people of mixed race hold and exercise …show more content…
The independence was revolutionary because those who came to be in power were former slaves and free people of mixed race. There were very few whites left since most of them had fled out of fear and Dessalines’ proclamation in 1804 stated “Never will any colonist of European set foot on this land as a master or proprietor. This resolution will henceforth be the foundation of our constitution”. Unfortunately Haiti was in a tough spot after going through thirteen years of war and losing about half its population. Another