Haitian Revolution Study Notes

Haitian Revolution Study Notes

• First Independent Nation: Haiti was the first independent nation in the Americas.
• Early Settlements: By the late 1600s, French pirates established agricultural settlements in western Hispaniola.
• Island Division: By the late 1700s, Hispaniola was divided between Saint-Domingue (west) and Santo Domingo (east).
• Significant Production: Saint-Domingue produced a majority of the coffee and sugar consumed in Europe.
• Free People of Color: Free people of color viewed themselves as separate from enslaved people and opposed enslavement.
• Maroons: Escaped slaves, known as maroons, lived in mountainous regions.
• Colonial Backbone: Free people of color formed a crucial part of the colonial workforce.
• Limited Weapons: Only a small portion of rebel slaves possessed weapons.
• Toussaint L'Ouverture's Background: Toussaint L'Ouverture lacked formal military training.
• Initial French Force: The French initially dispatched around 40,000 soldiers to quell the rebellion.
• Yellow Fever Impact: Yellow fever severely impacted French forces, reducing their numbers significantly.
• Slave Code: A set of rules, the slave code, governed treatment of slaves.
• Covert Support: The British discreetly supported the slave rebellion.
• Shift in Warfare: Following the conventional warfare, a guerilla-style conflict ensued.
• British Mercenaries: The British enlisted black mercenaries.
• Toussaint's Title: Toussaint was named Governor-General and negotiated with the British.
• Reconstructing the Economy: Toussaint invited many skilled people back to help rebuild the economy.
• Napoleon's Intervention: Napoleon's brother-in-law, sent a force to arrest Toussaint.
• Anti-Discrimination Laws: Haiti became the first nation to prohibit discrimination based on race or skin color.
• French Surrender: the French troops were forced to leave by the bravery of General Capois.

Other Key Information

• French Incentives: Freedom and citizenship were promised to slaves who fought for France.
• Significant British Possession: Jamaica was a notable British territory in the Caribbean.
• Slave Demands: Slaves sought freedom, equality, and the abolition of slavery.
• Haitian Town: Cap-Français (now Cap-Haïtien) was a significant town in Haiti.
• Harvest Season: Harvest season for sugar cane spanned late summer to early fall.
• Death Rate: 15-20% of slaves perished during the Middle Passage.
• Haitian Exports: Key exports included sugar, coffee, and indigo.
• Founding Fathers' Opposition: Some Founding Fathers, like Thomas Jefferson, opposed the revolution.
• Toussaint's Resistance: Toussaint continued fighting even after the reinstatement of slavery.
• American Presidential Interaction: President John Adams engaged with Toussaint.
• Maroons as Spies: Maroons often served as spies during the revolution.
• Difference between Slavery and Indentured Servitude: Slavery was permanent and hereditary, unlike indentured servitude.
• Unifying Cultural Force: Vodou (Voodoo) served as a spiritual and cultural unifier for Africans in Haiti.
• Toussaint's Reward for Rescuing the Governor: Toussaint was made a commander in the Spanish army.