The Haitian Revolution (1791 - 1804)
Introduction
to the Haitian Revolution
Haiti is a small country on the western side of an island, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea located between Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Jamaica. It was the first country in Latin America and the second country in the western hemisphere, following the United States, to gain independence. It is the only place in the world, even to present day, where the slaves have created their own nation. This has created a tremendous milestone in African history around the world. Over two hundred years ago, Haiti used to be the richest colony in the world, but today it is considered the poorest country in the western hemisphere. What occurred that changed this part of the island so greatly?
In 1791, slaves in the French Colony of Saint Domingue, rose up against their plantation owner. They were tired of their life style, limitations, and harsh punishments as a slave. The people in Saint Domingue fought for over 12 years and by 1804, all whites were driven out of the colony Saint Domingue, ending the revolution. The Haitian Revolution though was not just about making the whites leave. There were many desires from the people which gradually built up to this end result. One major difference in this revolution from any other, is the amount of revolutions that made up this main revolution. This occurred due to the outcome of the vast planting industry: A wide range of classes or groups emerged. These included slaves, maroons, free colored, mulattoes, planters, petit blancs, spanish soldiers, british soldiers, and french soldiers, each wanting their own result in this revolution. They would be working together one year and the next they were against each other. This caused a very complex revolution with mixed feelings and intentions.
In this website, I will guide you through the life before the revolution for all people living there and the key events leading up to the revolution and during the revolution. In addition, I will explain the eight stages of the Haitian Revolution, changes to the island after the revolution, as well as the impact this revolution had on people. One of the main questions, people today have about the this revolution is: Was the Haitian Revolution actually successful? Did the Haitian people really achieve what they wanted? Feel free to browse this website and discover my opinion on this topic.
Map & Quotes
for the Haitian Revolution
“Although a few might have foreseen the dangers ahead, most generally assumed that slavery was as inviolable as it was enduring. It had lasted over two hundred years. Slave rebellions had occurred in the past, and marronage had been a constant plague. But the revolts were always isolated affairs, and maroon bands were invariably defeated along with their leaders. For the planters, there was no reason to believe that slave activity was any different from what it had been in the past. They would soon learn, but only by the raging flames that within hours reduced their magnificent plantations to ashes, how wrong they were.” “By creating a society in which all people, of all colors, were granted freedom and citizenship, the Haitian Revolution forever transformed the world. It was a central part of the destruction of slavery in the Americas, and therefore a crucial moment in the history of democracy, one that laid the foundation for the continuing struggles for human rights everywhere. In this sense we are all descendents of the Haitain Revolution, and responsible to these ancestors.” |