Haitian Revolution

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

Servile uprising ending to the creation of an independent nation, largest and most successful slave rebellion (Western Hemisphere).

Question 2

Dates

Answer 2

a. 1791 - rebellion
b. 1803 - end of slavery and French control on colony
3. Haitian revolutions (occurring simultaneously) was inspired by French Revolution of 1789 - human rights, universal citizenship and participation in gov’t.

Question 3

Groups

Answer 3

White planters - owned slaves and plantations
Petits blancs - shopkeepers and teachers (few of them owned slaves).
*Whites began to support an independence movement when France imposed steep tariffs on items imported into the colony.
*Planters were disenchanted by France when they were forbidden to trade with any other nations.
*There was no representation of the St. Domingue pop in France; wanted to keep slavery
Mulattos - free blacks, often wealthier than petit blancs
Slaves - those enslaved working on plantations (economic)
Maroons - runaway slaves who lived in the mountainous area of Saint Domingue (survived off of subsistent farming)

Question 4

Societal Changes

Answer 4

Using the French revolution’s Declaration of the Rights of Man, they followed the legislation that “called for all local proprietors…to be active citizens” which proved radical and arguable (open to interpretation), effectively allowing free citizens of color with sufficient land to participate (while excluding the petits blancs).

Question 5

Night of August 21, 1791

Answer 5

Slaves led by Burgmann Duty rebelled August 21, 1791 • Night of August 22, 1791 1,000 enslaved Africans attacked their masters
◦ poisoning, stabbing and killing
◦ to gain independence they had to exert same violence used on them
◦ reason revolution was so brutal
◦ first day- hatred
• rebels grew from one thousand to twenty thousand
• newly liberated slaves burned cane fields and refinery
• in order to destroy system that enslaved them
• three days: most profitable plantations laid waste (184 sugar plantations, 1,000 coffee farms)
• whites and mixed races fled to capital city for protection
by 1792 they took control of the one third of the island.

Question 6

Battle of Vertieres

Answer 6

Battle of Vertieres (1803) marked the end of the revolution with the defeat of Napoleon’s forces by the rebel slaves led by J.J. Dessalines.

Question 7

Voodoo

Answer 7

• Voodoo religion common culture for all Africans
• First Haitian Congress; first step in African revolution
◦ Voodoo is the spirit of our ancestors
◦ Africans decided to be free in their own mind
◦ planned to revolt
◦ uprising to start in plantations in two weeks
◦ swore to secrecy, killed pig and drank blood