The Sentiment That Inspired The American Revolution
On January 1st 1804, a former slave by the name of Jean Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti’s independence against the French colony, thus making Saint Domingue, now Haiti the first black independent nation. Thirteen years before, in 1791, with the help of Toussaint l’Ouverture, the slaves in the north side of Saint Domingue started a rebellion to revolt against the French. This rebellion will open the gates of the revolution, defeating the French and forcing them out of Haiti. This first slave-led revolution caused fear and confusion among slave owners, but an apparent beacon of hope for slaves, and became an inspiration to many slaves and civil rights activists abroad, such as Frederick Douglas, Nat Turner and many more. Jean Jacques Dessalines,
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under Toussaint L’ouverture’s leadership, opened doors for the next generations to fight for freedom and liberty, the freedom and liberty they deserve. “The sentiments that inspired the American Revolution of 1776 and the French revolution of 1789 inspired the Haitian revolution (Painter).” Fearing that the revolt was an influence to slaves in the Southern part of the United States, Haiti’s Independence wasn’t recognized by the United States until 1862.
Even after the independence, the fear of being invaded by foreign forces remained in Haitians. After Toussaint L’ouverture’s captivation and death, Dessalines became the sole leader of the army of slaves. Although “French troops remain in the eastern part of Hispaniola and France is actively lobbying England, Spain and the United States to isolate Haiti commercially and diplomatically (History of Haiti)”, Dessalines was determined that slavery would never return on the island. He, along with other generals, swore to “renounce France forever, to die rather than live under its domination, and to combat with their last breath for Independence” (Brown 229). Yes, the revolution was complex and several revolts during these thirteen years led to the largest and most successful emancipation of slavery in the Western hemisphere. But what pursued Jean Jacques Dessalines to take over to plan and lead this …show more content…
revolt? What were his interests? But firstly, who was this former slave, who then changed history for the Africans in Haiti?
Born around 1758 in the Northern section of Saint Domingue, now known as Haiti, by enslaved parents who were brought to Haiti from West Africa, Jean Jacques Duclos was a slave who adopted his master’s last name, Duclos. He was then sold to a free African man named Dessalines. He then became known as Jean Jacques Dessalines. Not much is known of his parents but it has been said that Dessalines had two brothers and an aunt to whom he was very dear. He was married and had seven children with his wife, and an additional six children from other relationships. In 1791, he escaped to join the other escaped slaves to plot a revolt. During his years in slavery, just as any other slaves, Dessalines endured brutal beatings and assaults as well as inhumane treatments in the hands of his owners. It has been said that these conditions caused him to later become cruel towards the French. With his great military and leadership skills, Dessalines wasted no time to become a lieutenant in the first slave rebellion led by Jean Francois Papillon and Georges Biassou. He later traveled to Santo Domingo, the Western part of Saint Domingue, where he met Toussaint L’Ouverture, to fight alongside the Spaniards against the French. When L’Ouverture became Commander of the Spanish Army, he appointed Dessalines as his chief Lieutenant. He “quickly gained great reputation for the many successful engagements he commanded…”(hougansydney.com).” Dessalines was one of the most ruthless and unforgiving leader of Haiti. He was ferocious and brutal. He wanted to do what the French have done to his people. He ordered the execution of all Europeans in Haiti, sparing the lives of women, children, doctors and priests. “Haiti must be cleansed of every French taint” he once said. His victims endured the most excruciating abuses and the dreadful deaths. He was and still is a figure of pride for Haitians, but was called a blood thirsty monster who took pride and amusement in the demise of many Europeans. Although the revolt started in 1791, In March 1802, Dessalines and his men, about 1300, marched to a small fort called Crete-a-Pierrot that was being occupied by 13,000 French men. Although outnumbered and surrounded inside the fort by the French, the former slaves were short on food and munitions. But they were fearless and showed courage, strength and motivation to persevere as they take on the French. They created a mission to defeat those who captured and kept them in slavery. As a French officer wrote in describing the war “It was remarkable to see Africans, half naked, with musket and sabre, giving an example of the severest discipline” (Brown 207). Before the attack, Dessalines launched a call to his soldiers, announcing “these gates are lowered for those who are not willing to die. The friends of the French should go while they have the opportunity, because they can expect death here” (qtd. in Girard 129). Neither the French or former slaves were willing to surrender. This attack lasted 20 days. Although the French ended up with the fort, (but not for long) they lost as twice as many men than Dessalines’ army. As historians visited the fort decades later, they were able to see and touch the skeletons of the men who died during these 20 days.
But Dessalines didn’t stop there. He continued to order many battles against the French to capture the remaining towns still under French occupation. In doing so, houses and plantations were destroyed, casualty rate increased in both sides. As Joan Dayan wrote in Haiti, History and the Gods “…the terrors of pestilence, a city become one vast charnel house, the smell of putrefied corpses, black terror, white sentiment... (152). As the days lead on the largest battle of the Haitian revolution, Dessalines and the other generals were faced with an obstacle; more troops were sent in from France. Dessalines’ army was outnumbered. In early 1803 became an ally with Britain, when a war is renewed between France and Britain. In April of that same year, a treaty was signed between France and the United States for the purchase of Louisiana that France has obtained from Spain. Due to the failure of Napoleon’s establishment of a new French Empire in America, France no longer wanted the land of Louisiana and sold it for a mere $15 million. As Brown wrote, “Louisiana had become expendable because St Domingo had not been reconquered (227)” from the former slaves of the island. In conclusion, the Louisiana Purchase was made possible because of the
Haitian revolution. It pushed France to give up on the desire for an empire in the western hemisphere. Dessalines ‘next battle was the largest and most victorious battle he ever fought. This battle would help the Africans gain their freedom and declare independence from the long overdue occupation from France. That same battle would change St. Domingo to Haiti, the first black independent nation and the second independent nation after the United States. On November 18th, 1803, at Vertières, a Haitian army led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines attacked a strong French-held fort of Vertières, near Cape Français and won a decisive victory over French colonial army. This was the last and largest battle of the thirteen years’ slave revolt. Jean Jacques Dessalines’s 20,000 men defeated 60,000 French soldiers. More than fifteen thousands of French soldiers died, and the remaining were driven out of the Island. Saint Domingue became the first Black Independent nation, and the first nation to rid themselves from the terrors inflicted by the European colonialists. Dessalines became Governor for life of Haiti until September 22nd 1804, when he became emperor Jacques I and crowned on October 6th 1804. But after the victory, Dessalines and his generals were faced with a new challenge: creating a nation. Together with educated secretaries, they produced and drafted a proclamation similar to that of France. Dated November 29, 1803, this declaration of Independence was widely published in the United States, and proclaimed the country’s independence and the fact that slavery will never return on the island. Dessalines, along with Clerveaux and Christophe, apologized for the deaths of many innocent French and were open to the idea of having plantations owners return to the island as long as they “…acknowledge the lawfulness of the cause for which we have been spilling our blood these twelve years…” (qtd. in Popkin 135). A second document dated January 1st 1804, with Dessalines’ signature only announced a more radical break with the past. One can read the harsh words “…in order to draw up our act of independence, we need the skin of a white man to serve as parchment, his skull as an inkwell, his blood for ink, and a bayonet for a pen… (qtd. in Popkin 135). From this declaration emerged the change of the name of the nation, from Saint Domingue to Haiti, and the demise of the French legacy, and Dessalines ordered and witness the murders of the remaining French citizens on the island, citizens he had allowed to stay in their plantations. By April 1804, the white population in Haiti vanished. This emancipation and public proclamation of freedom caused worry and fear in the world. Slave owners were adamant to the fact that a black man defeated an army and brought a country deep in slavery to freedom. French weren’t welcomed in the United States because they would tell the story of the revolt, a horror story they wouldn’t want to believe, but a story of hope for the slaves. In 1811, a mullato slave named Charles Deslondes near New Orleans got inspired by the slave revolt in Haiti years prior. On the evening of January 8th, he and 25 slaves attacked and murdered the plantations’ owner’s family. They had stolen uniforms, guns, ammunitions from a warehouse of the local militia. Although the revolt wasn’t as successful as the Haitian one, it sent a message to slave owners and slaves in the United States. A simple and clear message: we will fight for our freedom, just as the slaves in Haiti did. In 1821, Denmark Vessey, a former slave who had purchased his freedom, began to organize a revolt that is planned to take occur a year later. A minister of the black Methodist Church in Charleston, Vessey used the pulpit to encourage slaves to break the chain of slavery. He gathered and convinced slaves of a revolt which was meticulously planned. Unfortunately, before the revolt could take place, a slave had alerted his master of Vessey’s plans of attack. He was captured and hanged, along with some of his men. Another rebellion inspired by the 1803 revolt occurred led by Nat Turner. On August 22nd 1831, thirty one years old Nat Turner and 70 slaves and freed people took the white neighbors who held them captive. They killed about 60 whites before most were captured and Turner fled and hid for thirty days before being captured. On November 11th, he was hanged publicly, and the scene that follows his execution was crucial. His body was cut up and skinned (it has been said that a purse was made from his skin), his head was removed and his body parts were distributed to slaves as a warming. Despite the barbaric execution of Nat Turner, he is considered as a legend and one of the few who led a revolt and died for his freedom. These are some of the revolts that occurred from inspiration of the largest and most successful slave revolt in 1803. Haiti’s victory inspired those who struggled against slavery and racism. Many great men such as Toussaint L’Ouverture and Jean Jacques Dessalines paved the way for future generations. Despite not being recognized by the United States, despite a tragic inflation, despite the casualties, Haiti refused to follow a dominant trend in world history. Haiti refused to be held captive. Harsh consequences came with that decision. The country was left in ruins, it was considered as a threat, an outsider to the rest of the world, which ceased diplomatic relations, and it was isolated by international embargo. Despite having to pay France 90 million franc in gold (the equivalent of $21 billion), despite being the poorest nation of the western hemisphere, Haiti stays the first independent black nation and the second independent nation in the world. They were willing to lose everything, but to gain their freedom in the process. ‘Liberty for all’ was their motto. And Jean Jacques Dessalines was their hero. Even after his death in 1806, he stays a legend, a figure of pride for Haitians. The Haitian national anthem is named ‘La Dessalinienne’. Every year, on Ocotober 17th, the country remembers, celebrates and thanks the life of this great man. On November 18th, Haitians will remember the battle that gave them their independence. He has been “…transformed into a symbol of black liberation and national self-assertion” (Popkin 145). He is honored as the “…embodiment of a revolutionary spirit…” (Popkin 145). Revolutions symbolized the vulnerability of slaves and the aspirations for freedom of millions of enslaved Africans, but the Haitian revolution pushed forward that idea, the idea of claiming universal rights while maintaining slavery. All because of one man, an illiterate slave, who led one country to victory: Jean Jacques Dessalines.
under Toussaint L’ouverture’s leadership, opened doors for the next generations to fight for freedom and liberty, the freedom and liberty they deserve. “The sentiments that inspired the American Revolution of 1776 and the French revolution of 1789 inspired the Haitian revolution (Painter).” Fearing that the revolt was an influence to slaves in the Southern part of the United States, Haiti’s Independence wasn’t recognized by the United States until 1862.
Even after the independence, the fear of being invaded by foreign forces remained in Haitians. After Toussaint L’ouverture’s captivation and death, Dessalines became the sole leader of the army of slaves. Although “French troops remain in the eastern part of Hispaniola and France is actively lobbying England, Spain and the United States to isolate Haiti commercially and diplomatically (History of Haiti)”, Dessalines was determined that slavery would never return on the island. He, along with other generals, swore to “renounce France forever, to die rather than live under its domination, and to combat with their last breath for Independence” (Brown 229). Yes, the revolution was complex and several revolts during these thirteen years led to the largest and most successful emancipation of slavery in the Western hemisphere. But what pursued Jean Jacques Dessalines to take over to plan and lead this …show more content…
revolt? What were his interests? But firstly, who was this former slave, who then changed history for the Africans in Haiti?
Born around 1758 in the Northern section of Saint Domingue, now known as Haiti, by enslaved parents who were brought to Haiti from West Africa, Jean Jacques Duclos was a slave who adopted his master’s last name, Duclos. He was then sold to a free African man named Dessalines. He then became known as Jean Jacques Dessalines. Not much is known of his parents but it has been said that Dessalines had two brothers and an aunt to whom he was very dear. He was married and had seven children with his wife, and an additional six children from other relationships. In 1791, he escaped to join the other escaped slaves to plot a revolt. During his years in slavery, just as any other slaves, Dessalines endured brutal beatings and assaults as well as inhumane treatments in the hands of his owners. It has been said that these conditions caused him to later become cruel towards the French. With his great military and leadership skills, Dessalines wasted no time to become a lieutenant in the first slave rebellion led by Jean Francois Papillon and Georges Biassou. He later traveled to Santo Domingo, the Western part of Saint Domingue, where he met Toussaint L’Ouverture, to fight alongside the Spaniards against the French. When L’Ouverture became Commander of the Spanish Army, he appointed Dessalines as his chief Lieutenant. He “quickly gained great reputation for the many successful engagements he commanded…”(hougansydney.com).” Dessalines was one of the most ruthless and unforgiving leader of Haiti. He was ferocious and brutal. He wanted to do what the French have done to his people. He ordered the execution of all Europeans in Haiti, sparing the lives of women, children, doctors and priests. “Haiti must be cleansed of every French taint” he once said. His victims endured the most excruciating abuses and the dreadful deaths. He was and still is a figure of pride for Haitians, but was called a blood thirsty monster who took pride and amusement in the demise of many Europeans. Although the revolt started in 1791, In March 1802, Dessalines and his men, about 1300, marched to a small fort called Crete-a-Pierrot that was being occupied by 13,000 French men. Although outnumbered and surrounded inside the fort by the French, the former slaves were short on food and munitions. But they were fearless and showed courage, strength and motivation to persevere as they take on the French. They created a mission to defeat those who captured and kept them in slavery. As a French officer wrote in describing the war “It was remarkable to see Africans, half naked, with musket and sabre, giving an example of the severest discipline” (Brown 207). Before the attack, Dessalines launched a call to his soldiers, announcing “these gates are lowered for those who are not willing to die. The friends of the French should go while they have the opportunity, because they can expect death here” (qtd. in Girard 129). Neither the French or former slaves were willing to surrender. This attack lasted 20 days. Although the French ended up with the fort, (but not for long) they lost as twice as many men than Dessalines’ army. As historians visited the fort decades later, they were able to see and touch the skeletons of the men who died during these 20 days.
But Dessalines didn’t stop there. He continued to order many battles against the French to capture the remaining towns still under French occupation. In doing so, houses and plantations were destroyed, casualty rate increased in both sides. As Joan Dayan wrote in Haiti, History and the Gods “…the terrors of pestilence, a city become one vast charnel house, the smell of putrefied corpses, black terror, white sentiment... (152). As the days lead on the largest battle of the Haitian revolution, Dessalines and the other generals were faced with an obstacle; more troops were sent in from France. Dessalines’ army was outnumbered. In early 1803 became an ally with Britain, when a war is renewed between France and Britain. In April of that same year, a treaty was signed between France and the United States for the purchase of Louisiana that France has obtained from Spain. Due to the failure of Napoleon’s establishment of a new French Empire in America, France no longer wanted the land of Louisiana and sold it for a mere $15 million. As Brown wrote, “Louisiana had become expendable because St Domingo had not been reconquered (227)” from the former slaves of the island. In conclusion, the Louisiana Purchase was made possible because of the
Haitian revolution. It pushed France to give up on the desire for an empire in the western hemisphere. Dessalines ‘next battle was the largest and most victorious battle he ever fought. This battle would help the Africans gain their freedom and declare independence from the long overdue occupation from France. That same battle would change St. Domingo to Haiti, the first black independent nation and the second independent nation after the United States. On November 18th, 1803, at Vertières, a Haitian army led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines attacked a strong French-held fort of Vertières, near Cape Français and won a decisive victory over French colonial army. This was the last and largest battle of the thirteen years’ slave revolt. Jean Jacques Dessalines’s 20,000 men defeated 60,000 French soldiers. More than fifteen thousands of French soldiers died, and the remaining were driven out of the Island. Saint Domingue became the first Black Independent nation, and the first nation to rid themselves from the terrors inflicted by the European colonialists. Dessalines became Governor for life of Haiti until September 22nd 1804, when he became emperor Jacques I and crowned on October 6th 1804. But after the victory, Dessalines and his generals were faced with a new challenge: creating a nation. Together with educated secretaries, they produced and drafted a proclamation similar to that of France. Dated November 29, 1803, this declaration of Independence was widely published in the United States, and proclaimed the country’s independence and the fact that slavery will never return on the island. Dessalines, along with Clerveaux and Christophe, apologized for the deaths of many innocent French and were open to the idea of having plantations owners return to the island as long as they “…acknowledge the lawfulness of the cause for which we have been spilling our blood these twelve years…” (qtd. in Popkin 135). A second document dated January 1st 1804, with Dessalines’ signature only announced a more radical break with the past. One can read the harsh words “…in order to draw up our act of independence, we need the skin of a white man to serve as parchment, his skull as an inkwell, his blood for ink, and a bayonet for a pen… (qtd. in Popkin 135). From this declaration emerged the change of the name of the nation, from Saint Domingue to Haiti, and the demise of the French legacy, and Dessalines ordered and witness the murders of the remaining French citizens on the island, citizens he had allowed to stay in their plantations. By April 1804, the white population in Haiti vanished. This emancipation and public proclamation of freedom caused worry and fear in the world. Slave owners were adamant to the fact that a black man defeated an army and brought a country deep in slavery to freedom. French weren’t welcomed in the United States because they would tell the story of the revolt, a horror story they wouldn’t want to believe, but a story of hope for the slaves. In 1811, a mullato slave named Charles Deslondes near New Orleans got inspired by the slave revolt in Haiti years prior. On the evening of January 8th, he and 25 slaves attacked and murdered the plantations’ owner’s family. They had stolen uniforms, guns, ammunitions from a warehouse of the local militia. Although the revolt wasn’t as successful as the Haitian one, it sent a message to slave owners and slaves in the United States. A simple and clear message: we will fight for our freedom, just as the slaves in Haiti did. In 1821, Denmark Vessey, a former slave who had purchased his freedom, began to organize a revolt that is planned to take occur a year later. A minister of the black Methodist Church in Charleston, Vessey used the pulpit to encourage slaves to break the chain of slavery. He gathered and convinced slaves of a revolt which was meticulously planned. Unfortunately, before the revolt could take place, a slave had alerted his master of Vessey’s plans of attack. He was captured and hanged, along with some of his men. Another rebellion inspired by the 1803 revolt occurred led by Nat Turner. On August 22nd 1831, thirty one years old Nat Turner and 70 slaves and freed people took the white neighbors who held them captive. They killed about 60 whites before most were captured and Turner fled and hid for thirty days before being captured. On November 11th, he was hanged publicly, and the scene that follows his execution was crucial. His body was cut up and skinned (it has been said that a purse was made from his skin), his head was removed and his body parts were distributed to slaves as a warming. Despite the barbaric execution of Nat Turner, he is considered as a legend and one of the few who led a revolt and died for his freedom. These are some of the revolts that occurred from inspiration of the largest and most successful slave revolt in 1803. Haiti’s victory inspired those who struggled against slavery and racism. Many great men such as Toussaint L’Ouverture and Jean Jacques Dessalines paved the way for future generations. Despite not being recognized by the United States, despite a tragic inflation, despite the casualties, Haiti refused to follow a dominant trend in world history. Haiti refused to be held captive. Harsh consequences came with that decision. The country was left in ruins, it was considered as a threat, an outsider to the rest of the world, which ceased diplomatic relations, and it was isolated by international embargo. Despite having to pay France 90 million franc in gold (the equivalent of $21 billion), despite being the poorest nation of the western hemisphere, Haiti stays the first independent black nation and the second independent nation in the world. They were willing to lose everything, but to gain their freedom in the process. ‘Liberty for all’ was their motto. And Jean Jacques Dessalines was their hero. Even after his death in 1806, he stays a legend, a figure of pride for Haitians. The Haitian national anthem is named ‘La Dessalinienne’. Every year, on Ocotober 17th, the country remembers, celebrates and thanks the life of this great man. On November 18th, Haitians will remember the battle that gave them their independence. He has been “…transformed into a symbol of black liberation and national self-assertion” (Popkin 145). He is honored as the “…embodiment of a revolutionary spirit…” (Popkin 145). Revolutions symbolized the vulnerability of slaves and the aspirations for freedom of millions of enslaved Africans, but the Haitian revolution pushed forward that idea, the idea of claiming universal rights while maintaining slavery. All because of one man, an illiterate slave, who led one country to victory: Jean Jacques Dessalines.