timeline The Haitian revolution
Explore the only example of a successful slave rebellion in the Americas Toussaint and Bonaparte By 1798 Toussaint had emerged as the most powerful Sugar, slaves and unrest British and Spanish invasion general in St Domingue, acting autonomously from the French authorities and attempting to re-start the The French seized control of the west of the island of Hispaniola from In 1793, Britain and Spain declared war on economy of the island by sending the population Spain in the 1690s, calling their new colony St Domingue. The colony revolutionary France and saw an opportunity back to work on the plantations. was an economic success — St Domingue produced more sugar then to seize St Domingue. The Spanish allied In 1801 a new constitution was issued and, while Jamaica, Brazil and Cuba combined — but it was based on the brutal themselves with rebellious slave leaders such as proclaiming loyalty to France, instituted Toussaint as exploitation of slaves. Francois Toussaint L’Ouverture. In desperation, governor of the colony for life. This alarmed the new In 1789, when revolution broke out in France, unrest quickly the French authorities in the colony declared French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. A large army spread to St Domingue. Following an aborted uprising among free an end to slavery, an act that encouraged was sent to reassert French control and war quickly blacks in 1790, the slaves revolted in August 1791. They sought an several rebel slave leaders, including Toussaint, broke out. Losses on both sides were very high and improvement in their conditions, such as more free time, rather than to change sides. The invasion was ultimately a eventually an uneasy peace was agreed. full emancipation. The revolt spread and white authorities were soon disaster due in part to the effect on European Toussaint was arrested and sent to France where on the defensive. The French government gave political rights to free troops of tropical diseases such as malaria and he died in prison. A new black leader, Dessalines, blacks in the hope of restoring their control. yellow fever. French Haitians massacred by the succeeded in driving out the French and the republic slaves of St Domingue, c.1971 of Haiti was declared on 1 January 1804.
1790 1792 1794 1796 1798 1800 1802 1804
May 1802 French 7 April 1803 1 January 1804 14 July 1789 1797–98 control established Toussaint dies in Haitian French Revolution 1793 4 February 1794 21 August 1791 Toussaint and truces agreed Fort de Joux prison independence breaks out in Paris Spanish and British French National Slaves rise up consolidates power in France declared, with invasions of St Assembly confirms with leading black on northern in St Domingue. Dessalines as Domingue with abolition of slavery generals plantations British forces governor for life. support from rebel withdraw in 1798 5 February 1802 He later proclaims October– slaves French fleet of October– himself emperor November 1790 August 1793 20 May 1802 French authorities more than 50 ships November 1802 Vincent Ogé July 1801 New French re-establish in St Domingue and 30,000 troops Renewed revolt leads short-lived 21 January 1793 constitution issued slavery in free all slaves. sent by Napoleon against French 18 November 1803 rebellion among Louis XVI executed in St Domingue Martinique and Toussaint Bonaparte arrives troops by black French defeated at free blacks in St in Paris confirming loyalty Guadeloupe L’Ouverture to re-assert French generals Dessalines battle of Vertieres, Domingue seeking to French empire. changes sides to control and Christophe remaining forces greater civil rights. Toussaint made join French against leave It is brutally governor of the British and Spanish repressed. Oge is colony for life, with Late May 1802 executed power to appoint Toussaint arrested his own successor and deported to Tim Lockley is professor of North American France history at The University of Warwick.
16 Modern History Review February 2016 www.hoddereducation.co.uk/historyreview 17