Cultural
Before
Before the revolution, the slaves made a distinct culture even after their educators left. The causes of the revolution included disputes over heritage and a religious meeting. Before the revolution, the slaves invented their own culture, the few that were freed became almost as rich as the whites, and the leader was inspired by The Enlightenment. The causes of the revolution involved a meeting with religious beliefs and a fight over heritage.
As stated before, there were four distinct social classes in Saint Domingue: white, free coloreds, petit blancs, and slaves. Before the revolution, slaves had been educated by Jesuit missionaries until the missionaries were kicked out of the country in 1767 by the French (Encyclopedia). Using this education and in an effort to gain independence and control, they subsequently created their own culture complete with a language (kweyol) and a religion (vaudou) (Encyclopedia). Some of their cultural activities had been banned by the whites, including the practice of vaudou (Shen). The slaves also used a local language (creole), which is a French dialect (Popkin). Newly arrived slaves had to learn this language to fit in (Popkin). Slaves were treated as property by their white masters. Free coloreds (mulattos) who were the product of relationships between French men and slaves, were often well-educated and very prosperous (Popkin). They were allowed to own land but still didn’t have as many rights as the whites. The leader of the revolution, Toussaint L’Ouverture, the son of an educated slave, was inspired by the Enlightenment philosophy and actively used European philosophies which empowered the slaves to become agents of change (Nicholson). A successful French revolution inspired Toussaint and others to fight for their civil rights.
As stated before, there were four distinct social classes in Saint Domingue: white, free coloreds, petit blancs, and slaves. Before the revolution, slaves had been educated by Jesuit missionaries until the missionaries were kicked out of the country in 1767 by the French (Encyclopedia). Using this education and in an effort to gain independence and control, they subsequently created their own culture complete with a language (kweyol) and a religion (vaudou) (Encyclopedia). Some of their cultural activities had been banned by the whites, including the practice of vaudou (Shen). The slaves also used a local language (creole), which is a French dialect (Popkin). Newly arrived slaves had to learn this language to fit in (Popkin). Slaves were treated as property by their white masters. Free coloreds (mulattos) who were the product of relationships between French men and slaves, were often well-educated and very prosperous (Popkin). They were allowed to own land but still didn’t have as many rights as the whites. The leader of the revolution, Toussaint L’Ouverture, the son of an educated slave, was inspired by the Enlightenment philosophy and actively used European philosophies which empowered the slaves to become agents of change (Nicholson). A successful French revolution inspired Toussaint and others to fight for their civil rights.
Causes
There are a fair amount of cultural causes the the Haitian Revolution. Cultural bickering between the grand blancs and the petit blancs created instability in the country and made them more susceptible to a coup. This was a short term cause. Coloreds were inspired by the French Revolution and ready to fight themselves for more civil rights (Saylor). This was a spark. They just needed another impetus. The final spark of the revolution was a Vadou service held by Dutty Boukman (Brown Library) A woman at the service, said to be held by a Vadou warrior spirit, named the people who were to be leaders of the slave uprising. This was the inspiration the slaves needed to revolt. The slaves prepared for their assault on the rich whites on the evening of August 21st.
All of these factors are important because had the slave revolt not happened, Haiti would not have become independent. It most likely would have remained a colony for France for much longer. The Enlightenment inspired Toussaint L’Ouverture to rebel and create a new government based off of ideas inspired by European philosophies. If the Vadou meeting hadn’t taken place, then the slaves would most likely not have rebelled until much later. In conclusion, the Haitian Revolution had a significant impact on Haiti culturally.
All of these factors are important because had the slave revolt not happened, Haiti would not have become independent. It most likely would have remained a colony for France for much longer. The Enlightenment inspired Toussaint L’Ouverture to rebel and create a new government based off of ideas inspired by European philosophies. If the Vadou meeting hadn’t taken place, then the slaves would most likely not have rebelled until much later. In conclusion, the Haitian Revolution had a significant impact on Haiti culturally.
"The god who created the sun which gives us light, who rouses the waves and rules the storm, though hidden in the clouds, he watches us. He sees all that the white man does. The god of the white man inspires him with crime, but our god calls upon us to do good works. Our god who is good to us orders us to revenge our wrongs. He will direct our arms and aid us. Throw away the symbol of the god of the whites who has so often caused us to weep, and listen to the voice of liberty, which speaks in the hearts of us all."
(thelovetureproject) Before saying this, Dutty Boukman drank blood from a pig (thelovertureproject). This is a quote made by Boukman when he fired up the slaves to revolt against their masters. This represents the kind of frustration and passion that led to the rebellion. He is saying that their gods have seen what the rich whites have done to them and that it is okay to rebel against the whites. After saying this, the slaves decided to revolt that night, starting at Gallifet plantation (theloverutreproject)