Haiti and the making of the early republic by ashli white. The success of the haitian revolution shook the institution of slavery. Biography of toussaint louverture, haitian rebel leader. Little is known about francoisdominique toussaint louverture before his role in the haitian revolution. The haitian revolution by toussaint louverture, paperback. By 1803 napoleon was ready to get haiti off his back. In 1798 the slaves were granted their independence, but toussaint continued his fight calling for.
This was the role assumed by toussaint louverture and his army in 1794. To the finland station is another to reflect the influence of jules michelet. Two of the sources used in this investigation include the translation of an autobiography of toussaint louverture and a book on the haitian revolution. Toussaint louverture and the san domingo revolution penguin. Toussaint louverture was the leader of the haitian revolution in the late eighteenth century, in which slaves rebelled against their masters and established the first black republic. Before the fighting ended 100,000 of the 500,000 blacks. Toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution sean kennedy. The french revolution of 1789 had a powerful impact in santo domingo. The revolution had a series of strong leaders who were able to give proper guidance to the enslaved africans. Toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution, part 2. His father hippolyte, or gaou guinou, was an aristocrat, but around 1740, the dahomey empire, another west african kingdom in what is now benin, captured his. A complex civil war breaks out in 1790 when free blacks, who have become french citizens, claim the application of the declaration of human rights.
Born into slavery on may 20, 1743 in the french colony of saint dominque, louverture was the eldest son of gaou guinon, an african prince who was. Slave revolts in the americas toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution part 2. In secret he wrote to napoleon in protest of the decisions being made by toussaint in regard to the haitian revolution. Despite being a free man of color, toussaint l overture supported the slaves of saint domingue, and became their military leader in order to help them. In a very short time, structures for bme members were inserted into the unions rule book. Francoisdominique toussaint louverture also known as toussaint louverture or toussaint breda, was a haitian general. Open the door to liberty a biography of toussaint l. According to philippe girards toussaint louverture. Domingue, where white plantation owners forced hundreds of thousands of african slaves to farm sugar cane. Toussaint louverture, 28 often described as the proclamation of turel, this. Toussaint took full advantage of this, reading every book he could get his hands on. With its appendix, from toussaint louverture to fidel castro, the black jacobins provides an excellent window into the haitian revolution and the worldwide repercussions it caused. Nick nesbitt is professor of french at princeton university.
The greatest negro that the world has ever known, before and since his time. Toussaint louverture was the leader of a revolution that. The following twopart article was published in workers vanguard, nos. Known to his contemporaries as the black napoleon, toussaint louverture was a former slave who rose to become the leader of the only successful slave revolt in modern history that created an independent state, the haitian revolution. A formidable military leader, he turned the colony into a country governed by former black slaves as a nominal french protectorate and made himself ruler of the entire island of hispaniola. His military and political acumen saved the gains of the first black insurrection in november 1791. A classic and impassioned account of the first revolution in the third world. Despite reinforcements from france, the area of the colony held by the rebels grew as did the violence on both sides. A few months later, the french invited toussaint to come to a negotiating meeting will full safe conduct.
On april, 20th, 1800, toussaint urged roume to give him permission to take the spanish santo domingo. He particularly admired the writings of the french enlightenment philosophers, who spoke of individual rights and equality. The book is superb, though perhaps not in every way. The haitian revolution 17911804 was a period of conflict in the french colony of saintdomingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the haitian republic. Toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution youtube. The black george washington, the black napoleon bonaparte, the black spartacus. The haitian revolution was an event of world significance which challenged the then dominant system of racial slavery.
And it is the story of a barely literate slave named toussaint louverture, who led. It means looking forwards to a new world while remaining anchored in the old. This website discusses the impact that the brilliant and inspiring revolutionary leader toussaint l ouverture had upon the haitian revolution by asking the essential question what role did toussaint l ouverture have in the haitian revolution. Who was toussaint l overture, the slave who became a military leader and ruler of the colony that would become the free black republic of haiti. This book is destined to be debated, just as it is destined to be hailed as a. The journal of the louverture project discovery and. When haitians fought for and won their independence from france 200 years ago, establishing the sovereign state of haiti, it was the second time that an american colony successfully rebelled against its mother country. A quick opener to begin conversation on the main causes of and importance of toussaint louverture to the haitian revolution.
The book looks at the influence of haiti on early american foreign policy. Toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution afrikhepri. Toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution inspired millions of free and enslaved people of african descent to seek freedom and equality throughout the atlantic world. Through the struggle, the haitian people ultimately won independence from france and thereby became the first country to be founded by former slaves. Douglas egerton on the haitian revolution, toussaint louverture, and jefferson resource bank contents q. In terms of historic merit, the achievements of haitian revolution leader toussaint louverture pictured are noteworthy but also highlight a complex and. The true story of the most successful slave uprising in world history comes to the screen as documentary filmmaker nolan walker explores the haitian revolution, the movement some historians site. Africans in americapart 3douglas egerton on the haitian. Led by former slave toussaint l overture, the enslaved would act first, rebelling against the planters on august 21, 1791. Toussaint joined a mass slave revolt in saint domingue, presentday haiti, in 1791. Toussaint louverture was the leader of the haitian revolution, the only successful slave revolt in modern history. Toussaint louverture was a leader of the haitian revolution.
Toussaint louverture was a former slave who led the haitian independence movement during the french. He led thousands of former slaves into battle against french, spanish and english forces, routing the europeans and seizing control of the entire island of hispaniola. What was the impact of the haitian revolution on americans, black and white. A leader whos political strategies and fighting abilities earned him eloquent nicknames and titles such as. Catholicism was the state religion, and many revolutionary principles.
Toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution inspired millions of free and. In this collection of his writings and speeches, former haitian politician jeanbertrand aristide demonstrates louvertures profound contribution to the struggle for equality. Louverture the one who finds the crack in the enemys defense and shows the way forward. This powerful, intensely dramatic book is the definitive account of the haitian revolution of 17941803, a revolution that began in the wake of the bastille but became the model for the third world liberation movements from africa to. Philippe girards toussaint louverture is a sophisticated and antimythological biography. Toussaintlouverture was a slave who helped a revolt in. Born in saintdomingue, in a long struggle for independence toussaint led enslaved africans and afrohaitians to victory over french colonisers, abolished slavery, and secured native control over the colony, haiti.
The many faces of toussaint l ouverture and the haitian. Why this radical history of the haitian revolution was just published. The french revolution also led to a second important spark cause of the haitian revolution, when in 1791, toussaint l overture stood up against white planters and lead a violent slave revolt. Some cite abbe raynal, who wrote against slavery, as a possible influence. The remarkable leader of this slave revolt was toussaint breda later called toussaint louverture, and sometimes the black napoleon. Toussaint louverture 1743 1803 a portrait of toussaint louverture on horseback. He even tried to make a deal with the white plantation owners before the revolt turned into a massive war. Toussaint louverture, louverture also spelled louverture, original name until c. At the forefront of the rebellion was general toussaint louverture, an exslave whose genius was admired by allies and enemies alike. Toussaint louverture and the san domingo revolution. Toussaint louverture was a great slave in the haitian revolution because he was a remarkable leader of the slave revolt, then he became a great leader of an army, he defeated napoleon bonapartes army, and he lived to be a good person. Context about toussaints habits as a leader from the pbs podcast toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution 2009 toussaint was always very careful to make sure that he tried every other option before resorting to violence.
Memoir of general toussaint louverture the autobiography of toussaint louverture is a primary source as it was written by the revolutionary leader himself during his life. In its formative years, america, birthplace of a revolution, wrestled with a volatile dilemma. Toussaint louverturethe haitian revolution by mason. Do they think that men who have been able to enjoy the blessing of liberty will calmly see it snatched away. General toussaint louverture, pictured here on a haitian banknote. This powerful, intensely dramatic book is the definitive account of the haitian revolution of 17941803, a revolution that began in the wake of the bastille but became the model for the third world liberation movements from africa to cuba. Toussaint louverture and the american civil war matthew. He was a man who possessed all qualities of a great leader and was well educated in french, latin and mathematics. Toussaint louverture and the haitian slave revolution. Little is known for certain about toussaint louvertures early life. Roume did not want toussaint to possess the spanish territory, so he refused to give the order to toussaint.
Haitian revolution 17911804, series of conflicts between haitian slaves, colonists, the armies of the british and french colonizers, and a number of other parties. Ouverture was the leader of a revolution that took place in what is now. Toussaint louverture was the leader of the haitian revolution. Toussaint louverture led a successful slave revolt and emancipated the slaves in the french colony of saintdomingue haiti. A biography reveals surprising sides to haitis slave liberator. Toussaint louverture was a leader of the haitian independence movement during the french revolution. Francois dominique toussaint, toussaint louverture. It also gives a brief history of life on the island of saintdomingue haiti and the slave trade. The story of revolution leadertoussaint louverture of st.
A revolutionary life, his family came from the allada kingdom of west africa. The former slaves were able to achieve freedom and equality by political and. From the conflicts, a disciplined leadership emerged in toussaint breda, who later earned the name toussaint louverture for being. Explore the insurgent life of toussaint louverture, haitian. The enlightenment and its effects on the haitian revolution of 1789. The 22 august 1791, toussaint is one of the main organizers of the slave revolt, known as the haitian revolution. Toussaint louverture, leader of the haitian independence movement during. Toussaint, who had been freed from slavery and taught to read and write, soon became leader of a rapidly expanding slave army. Toussaint and other black leaders of saintdomingue helped to lead the only atlantic slave society which successfully defeated its oppressors. As james notes, however, toussaint did not make the revolution. Was gifted in military and turned the slave society into an independent black state.
Toussaint l ouverture and the haitian revolution home. Napoleon agreed to recognize haitian independence and toussaint agreed to retire from public life. Beginning in 1789, free people of color of saintdomingue were inspired by the french revolution to seek an expansion of their rights. The island now known as haiti was once a french colony called st. Toussaint became the leader of a swelling insurrection of the entire black population of haiti. James avengers of the new world by laurent dubois encountering revolution. Slave revolts from this time normally ended in executions and failure this story is the exception. Toussaint louverture 17431803 won international renown in the haitian fight for independence. His army disciplined, mobile, combat effective became the spine of the slave revolution. Just when the american constitution was going into effect in 1789, a revolution broke out. In this collection of his writings and speeches, former haitian politician jeanbertrand aristide demonstrates louvertures profound contribution to the struggle.