Revolution in Saint- Domingue

1. Revolution in Saint-Domingue Events within the French Revolution helped lead to the largest slave revolt in human history.

2. The French Revolution • How did people in France view slavery? • Enlightenment thinkers saw slavery as evil but… • Most revolutionary leaders did not want to abolish slavery b/c they knew the French economy relied on goods produced by slave labor, so… • The constitution created by the Nat’l. Assembly did not apply to French colonies

3. The French Revolution • How did events in France effect Saint-Domingue? • Slaves were encouraged by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, but… • Whites interpreted it differently… • Wealthy white colonists believed the DRMC only applied to them • Poor whites believed it provided them equal privileges to the wealthy • Nearly all whites wanted to maintain slavery and limit the affranchipopulation, who… • Wanted equal rights to whites but not necessarily an end to slavery • These power struggles distracted people from the growing unrest in the slave population

4. Revolt in the North • BoukmanDutty • The Rebellion was the result of careful planning by slaves, maroons and some free blacks in the North led by a slave named BoukmanDutty • August of 1791 was the date set for the rebellion

5. Revolt in the North • What happened in the early months of the rebellion? • From the first night, this slave revolt was the largest ever experienced in the American colonies, quickly… • The revolt spread from plantation to plantation, and… • By the end of September, one thousand plantations were burned and hundreds of whites murdered, rebel armies grew and… • By November, nearly half of all slaves in the North were in open rebellion

6. Revolt in the North • What did the rebels want? • Not all rebels wanted the same thing. Most wanted better working conditions (additional days of rest, the end of the use of the whip), however… • As the rebellion progressed, it became more radical, rebels began to see • Emancipation, and the • Expulsion of whites from the colony as the ultimate goals of the struggle.

7. Revolt in the North • How did the affranchis and whites use slaves in their own power struggles? • In May, 1791, the French gov’t. declared that all free ppl. of color born of free parents had equal rights to whites, this… • Caused affranchis and whites to form their own armies to fight for power, meanwhile… • Divisions between colonists loyal to Louis XVI and those who wanted independence from France began to deepen.

8. Europe in Saint-Domingue • When Louis XVI was executed, Spain and G.B. went to war with France. This war became an opportunity for them to seize Saint-Dominuge, a colony which produced more exports than all Spanish and British colonies combined.

9. Europe in Saint-Domingue • Toussaint Louverture • How did the involvement of European powers affect the colony? • British, Spanish and colonial gov’t. leaders tried to win the loyalty of rebel leaders, who in turn… • Played the Europeans off one another, until… • The Spanish promised land and freedom to all rebel soldiers and their families, so… • By 1793, many rebel leaders joined the Spanish against the French including… • Toussaint Louverture who became a central leader of the Revolution

10. How did the involvement of European powers affect the colony? • During this period, G.B. was able to gain control of Southern Saint-Domingue by allying themselves w/white planters, meanwhile… • In 1794, the French gov’t. abolished slavery in part to… • Win the support of the rebels and it worked b/c… • Louverture and his troops abandoned the Spanish and joined the French, and together they were able to… • Expel the Spanish from Saint-Domingue, France was able to keep control of the colony and Louverture continued to gain power and… • In 1797, Louverture and Andre Rigaud, an Affranchi rebel leader joined forces to push the British out of the colony, however… • By 1799 a civil war broke out between the 2 for control of the colony

11. Civil War • Rigaud • Louverture • By the time that Civil War had broken out, Louverture was the most powerful force in the colony.

12. Civil War • Why did war break out between Rigaud and Louverture? • Rigaud was fighting in the interests of the Affranchi (mostly mulatto) population who held a significant amt. of wealth and property, while… • Louverture was fighting mainly in the interests of the black population who wanted to ensure an end to slavery and the promotion of equality • This war, known as the War of Knives, lasted a little more than a year and was extremely violent.

13. Civil War • How were foreign powers involved in the war? • The U.S. and G.B. supplied funds to feed and equip Louverture’s troops because… • Both wanted to see Louverture win the civil war, declare independence and thus… • Weaken France’s position in the Caribbean • In July of 1800, Rigaud was defeated, forced into exile in France and Louverture set out to rebuild Saint-Domingue