Haitian Revolution

De **Haitian Revolution** (French: Révolution haïtienne [ʁevɔlysjɔ̃ a.isjɛn] anaa *Guerre de l'indépendance*; Haitian Creole: *Lagè d Lendependans*) na ebe a successful insurrection by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule insyd Saint-Domingue, now de sovereign state of Haiti. Na de revolution be de slave uprising per dem know insyd human history wey lead to de founding of a state wich na ebe both free from slavery (though no be from forced labour) wey e be ruled by non-whites den former captives.

Na de revolt begin on 22 August 1791, wey e end insyd 1804 plus de former colony ein independence. Na e involve black, biracial, French, Spanish, British, den Polish participants—plus de ex-slave Toussaint Louverture emerge as Haiti ein most prominent general.Na de successful revolution be a defining moment insyd de history of de Atlantic World wey na de revolution ein effects on de institution of slavery be felt thru out de Americas. Na de end of French rule den de abolition of slavery insyd de former colony be followed by a successful defense of de freedoms de former slaves win, den plus de collaboration of already free people of color, of dema independence from white Europeans.

Na de revolution be de largest slave uprising since Spartacus' unsuccessful revolt against de Roman Republic nearly 1,900 years earlier, wey e challenge long-held European beliefs about alleged black inferiority den about slaves dema ability make dem achieve den maintain dema own freedom. Na de rebels dema organizational capacity den tenacity under pressure inspire stories wey shock den frighten slave owners insyd de hemisphere.

Compared to oda Atlantic revolutions, na de events insyd Haiti receive comparatively little public attention in retrospect: na historian Michel-Rolph Trouillot dey characterize de historiography of de Haitian Revolution as e be "silenced" by dat of de French Revolution.

## Insyd popular culture

* Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier ein second novel, *The Kingdom of This World* (1949), (dem translate into English 1957), dey explore de Haitian Revolution in depth.
* Na Madison Smartt Bell wrep a trilogy dem call *All Souls' Rising* (1995) about de life of Toussaint Louverture den de slave uprising.
* C. Richard Gillespie, former Towson University professor, na he wrep a novelization of Louverture ein life insyd de Revolution dem title *Papa Toussaint* (1998).
* Though no be referred to by name, Haiti be de backdrop give de 1990 Broadway musical *Once on This Island* by Lynn Ahrens den Stephen Flaherty. De musical, wey be based on de novel *My Love, My Love* by Rosa Guy, dey describe de social stratification of de island, den dey contain a song wey dey briefly outline de history of de Haitian Revolution.
* Insyd 2004, an exhibition of paintings dem entitle *Caribbean Passion: Haiti 1804* by artist Kimathi Donkor, wey na dem hold insyd London make dem celebrate de bicentenary of Haiti ein revolution.
* Insyd 2010, na author Isabel Allende wrep a historical novel dem entitle *Island Beneath the Sea*, wich dey document de Haitian Revolution thru de eyes of a slave woman wey dey live for de island.
* Na William Dietrich set ein 2012 novel, *The Emerald Storm* during de Haitian Revolution.

* De television mini-series ''The Feast of All Saints'' dey feature de Haitian Revolution insyd ein opening scene.
* Na Philippe Niang direct de 2012 French two-part television film *Toussaint Louverture*, plus Jimmy Jean-Louis wey dey play de title role.
* De film *Top Five* dey refer to a fictional film within de film dem call "Uprize", ostensibly about dis revolution.
* De role of Bois Caiman, Boukman, den Vodou generally, go cam turn de subject of a controversial, discredited neo-evangelical theology insyd de 1990s wey insist say na Haiti be pledged to de devil during de Revolution.
* Jacobin, an American socialist periodical, dey use an image of Toussaint Louverture for ein logo.

## Literature about de Haitian Revolution
* *An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, From Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President*
* *Bug-Jargal*
* *The Crime of Napoleon*
* *The Black Jacobins*
## War of independence

### Rebellion against reimposition of slavery

For few months, de island dey quiet under Napoleonic rule. But when e become apparent say de French intend to re-establish slavery (because dem don nearly do so for Guadeloupe), black cultivators revolt for de summer of 1802. Yellow fever don decimate de French; by de middle of July 1802, de French lose about 10,000 dead to yellow fever. By September, Leclerc write for ein diary say e get only 8,000 fit men left as yellow fever don kill de others.

For 1802, Napoleon add Polish legion of around 5,200 to de forces wey dem send to Saint-Domingue to fight off de slave rebellion. However, dem tell de Poles say der be revolt of prisoners for Saint-Domingue. Upon arrival den de first fights, de Polish soldiers soon discover say wetin dey actually take place for de colony be rebellion of slaves wey dey fight off dem French masters for dem freedom.
During dis time, der be familiar situation wey dey go on back for dem homeland as dese Polish soldiers dey fight for dem liberty from de occupying forces of Russia, Prussia, den Austria wey begin for 1772. Many Poles believe say if dem fight for France, Bonaparte go reward dem by restoring Polish independence, wich dem don end plus de Third Partition of Poland for 1795. As hopeful as de Haitians, many Poles dey seek union amongst demselves to win back dem freedom den independence by organizing uprising. As result, many Polish soldiers admire dem opponents, to eventually turn on de French army den join de Haitian slaves. Polish soldiers participate for de Haitian revolution of 1804, contributing to de establishment of de world ein first free black republic den de first independent Caribbean state.

Haiti ein first head of state Jean-Jacques Dessalines call Polish people *"de White Negroes of Europe"*, wich dem regard as great honor, as e mean brotherhood between Poles den Haitians. Many years later François Duvalier, de president of Haiti who dem know for ein black nationalist den Pan-African views, use de same concept of *"European white negroes"* while referring to Polish people den glorifying dem patriotism.
After Haiti gain ein independence, de Poles acquire Haitian citizenship for dem loyalty den support for overthrowing de French colonialists, den dem call "black" by de Haitian constitution.

### Dessalines den Pétion join Haitian forces
Dessalines den Pétion remain allied plus France until dem switch sides again, for October 1802, den fight against de French. As Leclerc dey lie dying of yellow fever den hear say Christophe den Dessalines don join de rebels, e react by ordering all of de blacks wey dey live for Le Cap to be killed by drowning for de harbour. For November, Leclerc die of yellow fever, like much of ein army.

Ein successor, de Vicomte de Rochambeau, fight even more brutal campaign. Rochambeau wage near-genocidal campaign against de Haitians, killing everyone who be black. Rochambeau import about 15,000 attack dogs from Jamaica, who dem train to savage blacks den mulattoes. (Other sources suggest de dogs fit be dogo cubanos wey dem source for dem hundreds from Cuba rather dan Jamaica.) For de Bay of Le Cap, Rochambeau get blacks drowned. No one go eat fish from de bay for months afterward, as no one wish to eat de fish wey don eat human flesh. Bonaparte, hearing say most of ein army for Saint-Domingue don die of yellow fever den de French hold only Port-au-Prince, Le Cap, den Les Cayes, send about 20,000 reinforcements to Rochambeau.

Dessalines match Rochambeau for ein vicious cruelty. For Le Cap, when Rochambeau hang 500 blacks, Dessalines reply by killing 500 whites den sticking dem heads for spikes all around Le Cap, so say de French fit see wetin e dey plan for do to dem. Rochambeau ein atrocities help rally many former French loyalists to de rebel cause. Many for both sides don come to see de war as race war where no mercy dem go give. De Haitians burn French prisoners alive, cut dem up plus axes, or tie dem to board den saw dem into two.

### War between France den Britain
Plus Napoleon ein inability to send de requested massive reinforcements after de outbreak of war for 18 May 1803 plus de British, de Royal Navy immediately despatch squadron under Sir John Duckworth from Jamaica to cruise for de region, seeking to eliminate communication between de French outposts den to capture or destroy de French warships wey base for de colony. De Blockade of Saint-Domingue not only cut de French forces out from reinforcements den supplies from France, but sanso mean say de British begin to supply arms to de Haitians. Trapped, engaged for vicious race war, den plus much of ein army dying of yellow fever, Rochambeau fall to pieces. E lose interest for commanding ein army den as James write, e "amuse himself plus sexual pleasures, military balls, banquets den de amassing of personal fortune".

De Royal Navy squadrons soon blockade de French-held ports of Cap Français den Môle-Saint-Nicolas for de Northern coast of de French colony. For de summer of 1803, when war break out between de United Kingdom den de French Consulate, Saint-Domingue don be almost completely overrun by Haitian forces under de command of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. For de north of de country, de French forces dem isolate for de two large ports of Cap Français den Môle-Saint-Nicolas den few smaller settlements, all wey French naval force supply wey base primarily for Cap Français.

For 28 June, de squadron encounter French convoy from Les Cayes off Môle-Saint-Nicolas, capturing one ship although de other escape. Two days later independently sailing French frigate dem chase down den capture for de same waters. For 24 July, another British squadron intercept de main French squadron from Cap Français, wich dey attempt to break past de blockade den reach France. De British, wey Commodore John Loring lead give chase, but one French ship of de line den frigate escape. Another ship of de line dem trap against de coast den capture after coming under fire from Haitian shore batteries. De remainder of de squadron dem force to fight two more actions for dem return to Europe, but eventually reach de Spanish port of Corunna.

For 8 October 1803, de French abandon Port-au-Prince as Rochambeau decide to concentrate wetin remain of ein army for Le Cap. Dessalines march into Port-au-Prince, where dem welcome am as hero by de 100 whites who don choose to stay behind. Dessalines thank dem all for dem kindness den belief for racial equality, but den e talk say de French don treat am as less dan human when e be slave, den so to avenge ein mistreatment, e promptly get de 100 whites all hanged. For 3 November, de frigate HMS *Blanche* capture supply schooner near Cap Français, de last hope for supplying de French forces. For 16 November 1803, Dessalines begin attacking de French blockhouses outside of Le Cap. De last battle for land of de Haitian Revolution, de Battle of Vertières, occur for 18 November 1803, near Cap-Haïtien wey dem fight between Dessalines ein army den de remaining French colonial army under de Vicomte de Rochambeau; de slave rebels den freed revolutionary soldiers win de battle. By dis point, Perry observe say both sides be "small mad" as de pressures of de war den yellow fever don take dem toll, den both de French den de Haitians fight plus reckless courage, seeing death for battle as preferable to slow death by yellow fever or being tortured to death by de enemy.

### Haitian victory

Rochambeau, seeing defeat inevitable, procrastinate until de last possible moment, but eventually dem force am to surrender to de British commander—by de end of de month de garrison dey starve, reaching de conclusion for council of war say surrender be de only way to escape from dis "place of death". Commodore Loring, however, refuse de French permission to sail den agree terms plus Dessalines wey permit dem to safely evacuate provided dem don left de port by 1 December. For de night of 30 November 1803, 8,000 French soldiers den hundreds of white civilians board de British ships to take dem away. One of Rochambeau ein ships almost wreck while leaving de harbour, but British lieutenant wey act alone save am, who not only rescue de 900 people for board, but sanso refloat de ship. For Môle-Saint-Nicolas, General Louis de Noailles refuse to surrender den instead sail to Havana, Cuba for fleet of small vessels for 3 December, but Royal Navy frigate intercept den mortally wound am. Soon after, de few remaining French-held towns for Saint-Domingue surrender to de Royal Navy to prevent massacres by de Haitian army. Meanwhile, Dessalines lead de rebellion until ein completion, when de French forces dem finally defeat by de end of 1803.

For 1 January 1804, from de city of Gonaïves, Dessalines officially declare de former colony ein independence, renaming am "Haiti" after de indigenous Arawak name. Although e last from 1804 to 1806, several changes begin taking place for Haiti. De independence of Haiti be major blow to France den ein colonial empire, but de French state go take several decades to recognize de loss of de colony. As de French retreat, Haiti, wich dem don once call de "Pearl of de Antilles", de richest French colony for de world, be impoverished, as ein economy dey for ruins after de revolution. Haiti struggle to recover economically from de war. De Haitians don pay high price for dem freedom, losing about 200,000 dead between 1791 den 1803, den unlike de majority of de European dead, who yellow fever kill, de majority of de Haitian dead be de victims of violence.

## References


## Sources

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## Read further
* Baur, John. "International Repercussions of the Haitian Revolution." *The Americas* 26, no. 4 (1970).
* Blackburn, Robin. "Haiti, Slavery, and the Age of the Democratic Revolution", *William and Mary Quarterly* 63.4, 633–674 (2006)
* Fick, Carolyn. "The Haitian revolution and the limit of freedom: defining citizenship in the revolutionary era". *Social History*, Vol 32. No 4, November 2007
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* Geggus, David Patrick. *The Impact of the Haitian Revolution in the Atlantic World*. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press 2001. 
* Girard, Philippe. "Black Talleyrand: Toussaint Louverture's Secret Diplomacy with England and the United States," William and Mary Quarterly 66:1 (Jan. 2009), 87–124.
* Girard, Philippe. "Napoléon Bonaparte and the Emancipation Issue in Saint-Domingue, 1799–1803," French Historical Studies 32:4 (Fall 2009), 587–618.
* Joseph, Celucien L. *Race, Religion, and The Haitian Revolution: Essays on Faith, Freedom, and Decolonizatio*n (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012)
* Joseph, Celucien L. *From Toussaint to Price-Mars: Rhetoric, Race, and Religion in Haitian Thought* (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013)

* Koekkoek, René (2020) The Citizenship Experiment Contesting the Limits of Civic Equality and Participation in the Age of Revolutions. Studies in the History of Political Thought
* Ott, Thomas O. *The Haitian Revolution, 1789–1804.* University of Tennessee Press, 1973.
* Peguero, Valentina. "Teaching the Haitian Revolution: Its Place in Western and Modern World History". *History Teacher* 32#1 (1998), pp.&nbsp;33–41. online.
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* Popkin, Jeremy D., *You Are All Free: The Haitian Revolution and the Abolition of Slavery* (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010)
* Jeffers, Jen (2016) 
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## External links

* The Louverture Project – a wiki about the history of Haiti (archived 3 November 2005)
* Archive on the History of the Haitian Independence Struggle 1791–1804 at marxists.org
* Haiti: History of Shaken Country – Video interview with historian Laurent Dubois
* Haiti Archives
* "Égalité for All: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution". Archived 30 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Noland Walker. PBS documentary. 2009.
* France Urged to Pay $40&nbsp;Billion to Haiti in Reparations for "Independence Debt" – video report by *Democracy Now!*
* The Other Revolution: Haiti, 1789–1804, digital exhibition from Brown University
* 15 Minutes History, UT at Austin
* Two Revolutions in the Atlantic World: Connections between the American Revolution and the Haitian Revolution Gilder Lehrman Center, Laurent Dubois.
* in France and Saint-Domingue" Archived 14 November 2020 Brown University