An Introduction to the Haitian Revolution

Haiti is a small country on the island of Hispaniola in the West Indies. It is a nation slightly smaller than Maryland with rough, mountainous terrain and with 95% of its population Black. Haiti was formerly a French colony known as Santo Domingue. The 13 year struggle (1791-1804) that was the Haitian revolution made Haiti the first free black republic and the first independent Latin American nation.

The time leading up to the revolution was filled with conflict. There was class conflict between rich and poor whites, regional conflict between the North, South and West parts of the country and political conflict between allies of France, allies of Spain, and allies of Britain. Racial conflict was also rampant in Haiti. Gens de couleur (free people of color, some with Latin or mixed blood) were fighting for full citizenship, including the right to vote. There was a lot of battle between slaves and slaveholders. Slave uprisings would happen often, but they lacked the organization and strategy to overthrow any major power. In addition, news of the French revolution (1789) had reached the country and Haitians were inspired by the cries of "liberty, equality, and fraternity!" and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen which declared all men equal and free. The slaves of Santo Domingue (a population that was somewhere near half a million) did not get this promised equality and freedom and this led to more slave revolts throughout the land.

The climax of this conflict was a vodoun ceremony performed by Dutty Boukman, a high, vodoun priest, where it was predicted that Jean François, Georges Biassou, and Jeannot Bullet (three men who would later become prominent members of the revolution) would lead a major slave uprising that would free all the slaves of Haiti. Boukman was later beheaded by the French colonists and his head was displayed to the public in an effort to put an end to the feeling of rebellion and unity sparked by his prophecy. This effort was not successful, however, and his prediction came true. In August of 1791 the biggest slave revolt yet occurred, led by Jean François, Georges Biassou, and Jeannot Bullet. Although it did not free all the slaves of Haiti it was no doubt the catalyst to the 13 year revolution that would gain Haiti its independence from France.

One of the strongest leaders in this revolution was Toussaint L'Ouverture. He was a former slave and the rebellion's military leader until he was captured in 1802 (he later died of pneumonia under French capture). His principal lieutenant, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, was also a former slave and he would become the first Governor-General of the newly independent Haiti. Other prominent members of the revolution are Jean François and Georges Biassou, the leaders of the original slave revolt. Oddly enough a lot of these men served in the French army and then later switched sides. Dessalines even briefly sided with the French in 1802 (he later switched back) which may have had something to do with the capture of Toussaint. The revolution was much more complicated then just the slaves against the French.

The Haitian revolution had a lasting impact on the nation. After the war the light-skinned Blacks took control of Haiti, gaining economic and political power. The systems of violence slave masters used to keep the majority under control were still used under the new republic. The Haitian revolution was a 13 year of struggle that left over 100,000 dead. The nation it gave birth to is not perfect, but it was the first nation of its kind: a free, Black republic. The revolution itself was the only successful slave rebellion in world history.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution
http://www.albany.edu/~js3980/haitian-revolution.html
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/DIASPORA/HAITI.HTM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_L%27Ouverture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Dessalines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutty_Boukman