Haitian Revolution Debate Brief
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Leah Thompson
Ms. Jones
Hist-112
Haitian Revolution Debate Brief
The Haitian Revolution began in 1791 and ended in 1804 in the French Colony Saint-Domingue (Diaspora). This revolution is considered to be the most important because it is the most successful slave rebellion ever to occur, the first colony to over throw its rule and become an entirely free-slave state, and furthermore set the beginning for social change across the Americas. The Haitian Revolution was the most significant revolution to occur in opposition to the American, Glorious, and French Revolutions.
Between 1791 and 1804 the most well executed revolution occurred in the richest colony in the world, the French Colony of St. Domingue. Hundreds of thousands of slaves began a revolt against the French. This was the first time such a low-ranking social figure of such a complex caste system rose to become entirely free and over throw their political, economic, social and intellectual boundaries.
The Haitian Revolution began during the Enlightenment period. This was a time period where irrationality, tyranny, and superstition were replaced with forward thinking and was known as the end of the Dark Ages (Gay).
Pierre Dominque Toussaint Louverture was the first governor of Haiti and the leader of the Haitian Revolution. Louverture has been labeled a military genius who defeated Napoleans troops (the first time), established a well-organized army, and restored a fair plantation system in Haiti (Knight) .
Charles Leclerc (Napoleans brother in law) was sent to Haiti to restore slavery but was again defeated.
The Haitian Revolution sent out a shockwave felt from Europe to the Americas which let the once thought superior whites to know that change was in fact coming.
The most important long term effect felt from The Haitian Revolution was the significant beginning to the abolition of slavery and a crucial support system of the Civil Rights Movement.
“The Haitian model of state formation drove xenophobic fear into the hearts of all whites from Boston to Buenos Aires and shattered their complacency about the unquestioned superiority of their own political models (Knight).” The Haitian Revolution of 1794 was responsible for igniting the ultimate reversal of how slaves were treated all over Europe and the Americas. “Within fifteen turbulent years, a colony of coerced and exploited slaves successfully liberated themselves which radically and permanently transformed things. It was a unique case in the history of the Americas: a thorough revolution that resulted in a complete metamorphosis in the social, political,