Saint Domingue: The Slave Revolution In Haiti
The slave revolt in Haiti also known as Saint Domingue gave all man and woman of color freedom and citizenship resulting in a better society. At the time Saint Domingue was ran by the French Colony and was the wealthiest overseas colony due to sugar plantations. “The rebellion was influenced by the French Revolution of 1789 which would be known for human rights, universal citizenship, and participation in government” . To begin, Napoleon Bonaparte, the ruler of France freed the slaves under the “Declaration of the Rights of Man” giving Saint Domingue free people of color and slaves the hope they needed. The rebellion started in 1791 when a former slave Toussaint L’Overture led 500,000 enslaved man and woman into battle against the French
Colony. In the 17th century Saint Domingue held the largest number of slaves and the slaves outnumbered the colonist by a very large number. Toussaint and his rebels started the war by first rebelling against the planters who owned plantations and slaves. Once the rebels owned a third of the island, Toussaint moved on to conquer Spanish land Santo Domingo known as Dominican Republic today. He abolished slavery and self-proclaimed himself as Governor-General over the entire island. As the island was becoming more of a battle zone Napoleon Bonaparte sent his brother-in-law General Charles Leclerc and 43,000 French troops to capture Toussaint and restore both French rule and slavery. General Charles Leclerc did capture Toussaint but tried taking the rebels’ weapons which lead to the Battle of Vertieres where the French was defeated. The rebels won the war under Jean-Jacques Dessalines who declared the nation independent and renamed it Haiti. Toussaint L’Overture was imprisoned and shipped to France where he passed away in 1803. In conclusion, Toussaint paved the way to Saint Domingue independence, freedom, and citizenship. Although slavery was abolished the sugar plantation was still a problem but very vital to the island. Once Napoleon Bonaparte realized he could no longer enslave Saint Domingue he granted them their freedom from the French Colony. “On January 1, 1804 Haiti become the first black republic in the world
Colony. In the 17th century Saint Domingue held the largest number of slaves and the slaves outnumbered the colonist by a very large number. Toussaint and his rebels started the war by first rebelling against the planters who owned plantations and slaves. Once the rebels owned a third of the island, Toussaint moved on to conquer Spanish land Santo Domingo known as Dominican Republic today. He abolished slavery and self-proclaimed himself as Governor-General over the entire island. As the island was becoming more of a battle zone Napoleon Bonaparte sent his brother-in-law General Charles Leclerc and 43,000 French troops to capture Toussaint and restore both French rule and slavery. General Charles Leclerc did capture Toussaint but tried taking the rebels’ weapons which lead to the Battle of Vertieres where the French was defeated. The rebels won the war under Jean-Jacques Dessalines who declared the nation independent and renamed it Haiti. Toussaint L’Overture was imprisoned and shipped to France where he passed away in 1803. In conclusion, Toussaint paved the way to Saint Domingue independence, freedom, and citizenship. Although slavery was abolished the sugar plantation was still a problem but very vital to the island. Once Napoleon Bonaparte realized he could no longer enslave Saint Domingue he granted them their freedom from the French Colony. “On January 1, 1804 Haiti become the first black republic in the world