RESISTANCE AND REVOLT

Haitian Revolution

Name: Mekannen Brightly

School: St. George’s College

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Gordon / Mr. Soares

Candidate Number: 1001070221

TITLE PAGE

Research question & Thesis Statement……………………………………...1

Aim …………………………………………………………………………2

Rational……………………………………………………………………..3

Introduction………………………………………………………………...4

Analysis………………………………………………………………….. 5-10

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………11

Sources…………………………………………………………………12

Appendix………………………………………………………………..13

Bibliography………………………………………………………………14
 RESEARCH QUESTION

What impact did the Haitian Revolution of 1791 – 1803 have on Haiti and the wider Caribbean?

THESIS STATEMENT

The Haitian Revolution of 1791 – 1803 impacted both Haiti and the wider Caribbean.
 AIMS

● To investigate the impacts of the Haitian Revolution on Haiti during the 19th – 21st
centuries.

● To assess the impacts of the Haitian Revolution on the Wider Caribbean.

Revolution’s impacts on Haiti and the wider Caribbean. The Haitian Revolution was the first

successful black revolt, therefore an abundance of factual information then allowed the

researcher to use his skills as an historian. The main reason he chose this topic was because it is

interesting and intriguing. This interest allowed him to explore information of this revolution and

drove his urge to make the research successful. He became fascinated to do this topic and the

confidence and productivity became overwhelming. For him, history encourages the mind to

think and learn more about the past; definitely this topic brought out that ability. It was an honor

to do the Haitian Revolution for his School Base Assessment and he obtained fundamental

knowledge from the past that will help his future.

revolution of twelve years not only impacted Haiti, but also the wider areas of the western

hemisphere. The Haitian Revolution created a different atmosphere and contributed changes in

the Americas. The events of liberation that occurred in Haiti created a black nation and would

impact a world based white supremacy and hostility towards African progression. The white race

developed a careful system based on African force labour and therefore would be impacted by

the courageous efforts of blacks to liberate themselves in St. Domingue (Haiti). Mimi Sheller

states, “It fundamentally challenged the Atlantic slave economy and European state system”. The

Revolution inspired many slaves in the Americas and gave them hope that freedom was actually

possible. Haiti became a symbol of liberty and a test for black progression. The slaves

recognized Haiti’s independence, winning wars against European armies, and becoming a

democratic country. Slavery was a system by which the whites were superior and the blacks

could not disobey the white man's sovereignty. The events of the revolution showed that the

Haitian blacks disobeyed and massacred their masters. Those events showed that the whites were

not unbeatable and the achievements of the enslaved in Haiti impacted the whites around the

world. The events of the black’s demolition against the white class allowed paranoia to grow

amongst the plantation masters in the wider Americas. “The Haitian model of state formation

created a terrified consciousness, and drove xenophobic fear into the hearts of all whites from

Boston to Buenos Aires, shattering their complacency about the unquestioned superiority of their

own political models”. The researcher believes this fear was created by paranoid slaveholders

who believed that the revolutionary ideas of Haiti would spill over into the rest of the Americas.
This paranoia was known as the ‘haytian fear’ and continued from the 1790’s to the first quarter

of the 19th century. The planters were so fearful of the revolution’s impacts that they denied

every attempt of the mulattoes and the slaves for better lives and thought their actions were

instigated by collusion of Haiti. Several whites and mulattoes left Haiti with their slaves and

were referred as French émigrés (refugees). The masters became fearful that the French whites

would bring revolutionary ideas; mulattoes would encourage their coloured counterparts for

equality with the whites while the Haitian blacks would give confidence to the other slaves to

revolt. Therefore, the white masters watched the refugees closely and did not allow them to

socialize with their slaves. They were sometimes harsh against the refugees for example:

according to Patrick Bryan, in 1794 it was decided to incarcerate all French Negroes in Antigua

and in 1795 “A numerous contingent of French refugees with their slaves’’ were shipped out of

St. Kitts as a security measure”. In Jamaica, the plantocracy was fearful that the refugees would

be influential to their Jamaican counterparts and therefore issued a bill entitled the “foreigners of

dangerous descriptions Act”. The act was created in the 1790’s and was aimed at deporting

dangerous, idle and uncertified Haitian immigrants and their enslaved Africans. The Jamaican

assembly pleaded with the metropolis for additional security in case the slaves would try to

emulate the Haitian rebels. Their plea became stronger in 1797 when it was also alleged that

Toussaint L'Ouverture was planning a military expedition to overthrow the British colonial rulers

in Jamaica. The planters started to be repressive and initiated extreme security methods.

However, those methods did not contribute as the slaves began to resist throughout the first

quarter of the 19th century. The paranoia affected the actions and judgments of the plantation

masters. The researcher believes that the planters did not sometimes gain as they deported

émigrés (refugees focusing on survival would not stir any altercation) that could have
contributed to the state. According to Dorris Hamilton the French émigrés contributed to the

increase in the French Creole population in the wider Americas and created mix cultures. The

émigrés were also a force of conservatism in the Americas by sharing firsthand accounts to the

various governments and people of the area in the Caribbean of the dangers and horrors of slave

revolt. The Haitian Republic declared, “Freedom to all slaves who entered her territory”, thus

Haiti became a haven and refuge for all runaways including blacks and coloureds from all over

the Americas. It was soon reported that slaves were escaping in canoes destined for Haiti. Many

colonies were affected because any slave that had landed on ‘Haitian soil’ could not be returned

to its former colony or become a slave ever again. W. Jeffrey Bolster supports Haiti as a refuge

for runaways and states, “Haiti also served as a magnet to black seamen throughout the Atlantic

world because it encouraged free black immigration and harboured runaways” .

The Haitian Revolution also impacted politically elsewhere in the Americas. The countries that

would be impacted easier by the upheavals of Haiti would be the French colonies especially

Martinique and Guadeloupe. The French commissioner Sonthonax decreed the emancipation of

the slaves in St. Domingue and in the French colonies. The plantocracies of Martinique and

Guadeloupe were apprehensive about the development and invited the British to conquer both

islands. According to Patrick Bryan, “The defense of their property rights was more important to

the planters then the question of who ruled them” ; thus, the Martinican and Guadeloupeans

planters were willing to betray their metropolis in order to save their property. The British were

against revolutionary France's’ concepts and decided to challenge France for the following

reasons: British wanted to retain the old order in the Caribbean, protect the planters’ interests and

conquer the French colonies. The British conquered Martinique in February 1794 and later
captured St. Lucia and Guadeloupe. However, Victor Hugues was sent to the Caribbean from

France and re-conquered the French colonies and created chaos in the British colonies including:

Grenada and Dominica by raising the banner of rebellion. Thus the revolution encouraged

warfare in the Caribbean amongst the main powers of Europe. Although St. Domingue gained

independence and slavery was abolished, Guadeloupe’s slavery was restored by Napoleon

Bonaparte .The Haitian revolution has been associated with several slave revolts during the

1790’s to the 1800’s. The Haitian Revolution was influential to the second maroon war in 1795.

The planters were afraid that the revolution from St. Domingue would spread to Jamaica and this

fear was confirmed in 1795 when the Trelawny maroons started to revolt. The planters were sure

that the infection had spread from St. Domingue and it was also stated that revolutionary French

agents came to Jamaica to entice the maroon’s rebellion. Long after the Haitian Revolution had

occurred; it was still associated with other rebellions and revolts in the wider Caribbean.

Many planters were concerned more about the threat Haiti posed to their societies. However the

collapse of Haiti’s sugar and coffee production benefitted several countries. The destruction of

Haiti’s economy removed a major competitor in the sugar and coffee markets. The destruction of

factories and the loss of capital removed Haiti from its prominent position in the world markets.

The collapse of Haiti’s production and cultivation opened a new opportunity for any other

country in the Americas. The country that succeeded Haiti as the most productive sugar colony

was Cuba. Cuba’s production was assisted by the arrival of émigrés who possess the skills in

sugar and coffee production and sometimes brought capital along with them. Jamaica also

benefitted from the refugees that arrived in the island because the French whites contributed by

introducing better ways of production and using their skills to increase cultivation. The planters
of the Americas were glad that the French émigrés were assisting in the productions of sugar and

coffee and the planters were also impressed by the new skills brought to their production by the

black/enslaved refugees. The British markets benefitted temporarily from Haiti’s economic

misfortune because there was a shortage of sugar in Europe following the outbreak of the

revolution in St. Domingue... Those were the impacts of the revolution on the wider Americas.

When a revolution occurs within a nation, it causes significant changes in the country. The

researcher will support whose thesis that the Haitian Revolution (1791-1803) had caused

tremendous impacts in Haiti. Socially, Haiti was impacted severely, the population decreased

drastically because many blacks and mulattoes had died during the revolution and the dominant

white class had been completely massacred. Many whites and some mulattoes fled the island and

contributed to the decline in the population. The revolution had changed the social composition

of the island. At the end of the revolution, the lowest order of the society (slaves) became free,

equal and independent citizens. After gaining independence, the racial conflicts increased

between the mulattoes and blacks and those conflicts were about the disagreements of leadership

for the island. Both mulattoes and blacks fought for equality during the revolution and the social

issues before could not be resolved even when independence was achieved. Thus, the revolution

caused freedom and independence and resulted in the social and racial conflicts between both

groups. However, the unification of blacks and mulattoes defeating white oppression showed that

if they unite, freedom was possible and such a feat gave the Haitians confidence of developing

their country. Unification is very important to social development and the revolution brought out

that unity and for a time it was a good impact on Haiti. Doris Hamilton states, “the revolt led to

the emergence of leaders from among the slaves” ; the leaders impacted Haiti because their
actions, plans, and lavishing bloods allowed Haiti to gain liberty and independence. Education, a

key necessity was absent in Haiti and impacted the island immensely. There were few schools in

the Island and the conditions were poor. Even today, the education is inadequate and less

resourceful in Haiti than many other places in the world and many children continue to suffer.
 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the revolution impacted not only Haiti, but also the wider Caribbean. The

revolution impacted in the Americas by encouraging warfare and rebellion and allowing paranoia

to grow amongst the plantation masters. On the contrary, it impacted by boasting sugar and

coffee cultivation in the wider Americas; the refugees from Haiti contributed to that cultivation,

created mix cultures and became a force of conservatism in the Americas. In the wider Americas,

the Haitian Revolution gave the other slaves hope that freedom was possible; Haiti became a

refuge for runaways and aided the abolition movement across the Americas. Therefore, the

historian has supported his thesis statement that the revolution did impact the wider Americas.

The historian will also support his thesis that the revolution did impact Haiti. Unfortunately, the

revolution caused the depletion of the population, increased social issues amongst the mulattoes

and blacks, started the political instability within the island, caused economical ruins for the

country, and allowed Haiti to be weak and controlled by foreign imperialism. This revolution

marked a turning point in Haiti’s overall progression as she did not return to her pre –

revolutionary prosperity. However, the revolution did allow the Haitians to gain freedom and

independence and contributed to the emergence of exemplary leaders such as: Toussaint and

countless others. The revolution has impacted Haiti from 1804 up to this very day as the country

did not progress as a developing country. The events of 2004 showed the impact of the

revolution on Haiti 200 years after she gained independence. It is sadden to know that the

country once known as the ‘Pearl of the Antilles’ has not been able to achieve glory, but instead

has cried for over two centuries. It is evident that the outcome of the revolution has affected the
Haitians even today and will continue to impact their lives. Thus, the revolution has impacted the

wider Americas and has also impacted Haiti drastically and immensely throughout the years.
 APPENDIX

Picture 1A Picture 1B Picture 1C

Toussaint L’Ouverture Commissioner Sonthonax Napoleon Bonaparte

Picture 1D Picture 1E

Jean Jacques Dessalines Alexandre Petion

Democracy after slavery

Page 73

 Bryan, Patrick

The Haitian Revolution and its effects

Page 31

 Gosse, Dave St. A

Caribbean Quarterly – The Haitian Revolution and Jamaica in 1790’s – 1834

Page 7

 Hamilton, Dorris

Lest you forget – Resistance and Revolt

Page 62

 Bryan, Patrick

The Haitian Revolution and its effects

Page 81

 Lest you forget – Resistance and Revolt

Page 61

 Bryan, Patrick. The Haitian Revolution and its effects, Kingston. Heinemann, 1984.

● Willie-Hamilton, Doris. Lest you forget – Resistance and Revolt, JPH, 2002.

● Hamilton, Dorris. Lest you forget – Resistance and Revolt