Haitian Revolution: Conflict amongst the Slaves, Free Non-Whites, and Whites
Bonjour. Aujourd’hui je vais expliquer la Révolution Haïtienne et ses complexités.
Prior to 1790, Haitian society was broken up into 3 groups: the slaves, the gens de coleur (or free non-whites), and the whites.
The whites were equal in the eyes of the law, but they were divided by class. Meanwhile, the free non-whites, or gens de coleur, faced discrimination both in the law and in society. Despite this, there was still a wide range of social diversity. Unlike other colonies held by the Spanish and the British, social status and race were not inherently connected. There certainly were wealthy gens de coleur and poor whites. The slaves worked in the plantations under both the gens de coleur and the whites.
Following the 1789 French Revolution, the whites, which were made up of various social groups and wealth, began to fight amongst themselves. The wealthy whites (les grands blancs) had traditionally held power through their wealth and influence and wanted to maintain the staus quo. Meanwhile, the middle and lower class whites (les petits blancs) felt that they deserved to rule. As a result the petits blancs organized a National Guard in order to take power.
With the National Guard organized, the petits blancs attempted to wrest control of the three provincial colonial assemblies and the towns’ governments from the grands blancs. The petits blancs sought to institute a country free from France while still maintaining slavery and the racial hierarchy. As a result of the conflict and the desire of the petits blancs to maintain the racial hierarchy, the gens de coleur demanded equal rights, which were then granted by the French National Assembly in 1790.
Despite the small impact of this law, the petits blancs tried to refuse the gens de coleur their rights. In response, the gens de coleur staged armed demonstrations. The leaders of this demonstration were executed by the colonial government, which ultimately led to a series of class and racial
Prior to 1790, Haitian society was broken up into 3 groups: the slaves, the gens de coleur (or free non-whites), and the whites.
The whites were equal in the eyes of the law, but they were divided by class. Meanwhile, the free non-whites, or gens de coleur, faced discrimination both in the law and in society. Despite this, there was still a wide range of social diversity. Unlike other colonies held by the Spanish and the British, social status and race were not inherently connected. There certainly were wealthy gens de coleur and poor whites. The slaves worked in the plantations under both the gens de coleur and the whites.
Following the 1789 French Revolution, the whites, which were made up of various social groups and wealth, began to fight amongst themselves. The wealthy whites (les grands blancs) had traditionally held power through their wealth and influence and wanted to maintain the staus quo. Meanwhile, the middle and lower class whites (les petits blancs) felt that they deserved to rule. As a result the petits blancs organized a National Guard in order to take power.
With the National Guard organized, the petits blancs attempted to wrest control of the three provincial colonial assemblies and the towns’ governments from the grands blancs. The petits blancs sought to institute a country free from France while still maintaining slavery and the racial hierarchy. As a result of the conflict and the desire of the petits blancs to maintain the racial hierarchy, the gens de coleur demanded equal rights, which were then granted by the French National Assembly in 1790.
Despite the small impact of this law, the petits blancs tried to refuse the gens de coleur their rights. In response, the gens de coleur staged armed demonstrations. The leaders of this demonstration were executed by the colonial government, which ultimately led to a series of class and racial