Saint Domingue: The Haitian Slave Revolution

Slave revolution. Before it became an independent nation, Saint- Domingue (currently Haiti) was a French colony. Saint- Domingue started as an outlaw territory. Saint Domingue attracted a great deal of naval, deserter castaways and indentured servants. These were mostly single men seeking good fortune in the New World. “When the colonies were founded and at the moment when Africans began to be brought in to cultivate them, there were no or almost no European women present” (Dubois and Garrigus, 79). These men eventually felt, sick, overwhelmed and in need of care of love and companionship. For this reason they took African women, as wives, lovers, and companions. From this unions a new race of children were born. These children were born
“Until this point, there was no prejudice against this class of free men” (Dubois and Garrigus, 80), who were born from the unions between Africans and white colonists. However, many white colonist preferred marrying African rather than white women Moreover, many people of color achieved more economic prosperity than some white European. These, among other reasons, brought a lot of jealousy and prejudice against the people of color. White European discriminated constantly against people of color even if they were wealthy or free. They were constantly forbade people of color of wearing the same clothes and whites, they were forbade whites to marry blacks, etc. “In addition to the humiliations whites heaped upon [people of color], they tried to create harsh laws that would reinforce these insults and stifle the talents and industries of this class...” (Dubois and Garrigus, 81). Because of these discriminations, Saint- Domingue wealthy men of color were demanding reforms against racial discrimination. “Though most [wealthy colored people] were not opposed to slavery their attack on racism opened the way for the slave revolt that became the Haitian revolution” (Dubois and Garrigus, 15). On the other side black
Riots against the king looked to put an end to privileges enjoyed only by the wealthy. In a few words, the French revolution sought to create a society based on liberty and equality. These ideal reached the colony of Saint- Domingue and oppressed blacks and all those who hated the European system to revolt against their monarchy and fight for liberty and equality. “In July 1789, slaves began gathering on the docks in Saint- Pierre, Martinique. They were mobilized by a rumor than the king of France had freed them and the local authorities were attempting to quash news of the decree” (Dubois and Garrigus, 18). The revolt in Martinique was suppressed. However, this revolt was just the beginning of such revolts. In 1791 African and island plantation workers started a revolution against slavery. “The 1791 uprising in saint -Domingue is the only such revolt that succeeded in destroying slavery in the society where it took place” (Dubois and Garrigus, 9). Slaves turned against their masters. They slaughtered them and poisoned them. They also burnt the plantations, houses and mechanisms of production. In general, it was a great scale massacre. Toussaint Louverture was one the main actors of the Haitian revolution, although it was Toussaint’s generals, especially Jean- Jacques who ultimately led the colony to independence. Toussaint Louverture was a free black who fought to transform Saint- Domingue into an