Haitian Revolution Effect on Slavery - 1969 Words

The uprising of nearly 100,000 slaves in Saint-Domingue from 1791-1804 was the largest insurrection of slaves in history. The Haitian Revolution resulted in the creation of the first successful independent freed slave state in the world, a fact that rocked the socio-political, economic, and moral foundations of the Caribbean.[1] However, in the period following the Revolution, there is a noted increase of slavery in the Caribbean as a whole. Did the success of the Haitian uprising merely serve as a lesson for Caribbean planters and reinforce the slave society? To answer this question one must examine the factors that led to the Revolution’s success both externally, in the European metropoles, and internally, in the psychological and†¦show more content†¦This was especially prevalent in French colonies, as evidenced by the refusal of Saint-Domingue planters to relinquish any power even to wealthy Creoles, many of which owned slaves themselves. This social division was paired with a moral doctrine of domination that justified brutal slavery by citing white moral superiority to savage, subhuman Africans. This social division and moral justification had been entrenched in Caribbean society for nearly three hundred years before the Haitian Revolution.[4] Thus, not only was a successful slave rebellion unconscionable to whites, it also was morally revolting. This viewpoint was well chronicled by Don Pedro Irisarri of nearby San Juan, who wrote the Informe communicating instructions to Puerto Rico’s representative in the Cà ¡diz about the Saint-Domingue uprising. Based on the history of racial division and subjugation in the Caribbean it is not surprising that Irisarri does not sympathize with the former slaves but instead notes that â€Å"just as it would be impossible to change their color from black to white it would be less possible that their corrupt and vicious hearts be innocent during their captivity.† The lesson Irissa ri drew from the Revolution was that the slaves’ success was due to their â€Å"numerical superiority.† Thus, he suggests a more careful use of slavery, not its abolition. This same reaction was held by whites around the Caribbean. Superficially, the Revolution strengthened slaveryShow MoreRelatedHistory And History Of Haiti810 Words   |  4 Pageswhere Haiti was ignored and downplayed as an important event of the Age of Revolutions. It has the uncomfortable feature of the abolition of slavery in a constitution by non-Europeans which needs to be united with the period it not only influenced but was influenced. The historiography of Haiti with respect to the Atlantic Revolutions has been one of a gradual acceptance with a few exceptions. In the United, the Haitian Revolution posed a problem for not only the slave owner but the government. PresidentRead MoreFemale Dominance And Grisly Details Of The Haitian Revolution857 Words   |  4 Pagesinterested in the male dominance and gruesome details of the Haitian Revolution. Unfortunately, the contributions of women in the Haitian Revolution are often overlooked by historians due to the horrors of the revolution. The few more works that do exist about women discuss their roles in slavery and their resistance in the Haitian Revolution. In recent years, some scholars are challenging the lack of women representation in the Haitian War of Independence. Scholars like Philippe Girard are dissectingRead MoreWhat Did The Haitian Revolution Do For End Racial Slavery And How Successful Was It?1381 Words   |  6 Pages3/2/17 What did the Haitian Revolution do to end racial slavery and how successful was it in doing so? The Haitian Revolution was the first ever ‘successful’ slave rebellion, which took place from 1791-1804. This was followed by the Independence of Haiti, Racial Slavery is the forced labor of individuals and discrimination based on race, in which racism and hatred are the core. Racial slavery leads to the dehumanization of the slave. One of the greatest instances of racial slavery was the importationRead MoreThe Abolition Of Slavery Throughout The United States And Haiti1073 Words   |  5 PagesRaina Baxter Dr. Haas AFRI 312 September 28, 2015 The Abolishment of Slavery in the United States and Haiti. When you think of the abolishment of slavery, what is the first place you think of? Was it the United States? Maybe even Africa? 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Saint Domingue was the top sugar producing island at this time thanks to slave labor. Slaves were the reason why the French Colony was so prosperous in the first place. At this time Saint Domingue soon to beRead MoreIndian indentureship vs. African Slavery1445 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Hannah Henry Tshana Thomas-Francique West Indian History 18 March 2014 Haitian Revolution: Circumstances Haiti was the French of Santo Domingo, the most prolific colonial economy in the world. Monopolized by plantation agriculture, mainly to stock coffee and sugar to the world market, practically 90 percent was Haiti’s slave population. African slaves were brought to the island in the Atlantic slave trade. The fragment of the populace subsisted of peoples of European ancestry and of mixedRead More The Influence of Toussaint Louverture on American Abolitionists2914 Words   |  12 Pageswere quickly given life when Toussaint Louverture took control of the slaves and led the most successful slave uprising in history. The American Civil War, much like the Haitian Revolution, consisted of oppression, violence, and inequality towards slaves. Toussaint Louverture’s bold display of leadership during the Haitian Revolution influenced antebellum America, especially abolitionist leaders such as John Brown to fight for the abolitionist cause. For decades after the rise and fall of ToussaintRead MoreFactors Responsible for the Outbreak of the Haitian Revolution2143 Words   |  9 Pagesthe opposition of the system of slavery, whereas, revolt is the refusal to obey or confirm to a certain order. One of the main resistance and revolt that occurred in the Caribbean was the Haitian Revolution. This School Based Assessment (SBA) is aimed at identifying the main causes and effects of the Haitian Revolution. Another aim off this school Based Assessment is to seek to find out why most slave protest and rebellions failed to destroy the system of slavery. Factors that were responsible