Political
Before
Before the revolution, Saint-Domingue’s free people, both whites and blacks, despised French mercantilist economic regulations, which meant that the colony could only import and export to France, and dealt with smugglers whenever they could. They weakened the colonial government whenever they were given the opportunity, specifically rebelling against the increased military obligations in the 1760s. (Haiti Revolution) |
Causes
Although the French colony St. Domingue seemed to have established a balanced and well structured government, political unrest began when the French Revolution broke out and tensions began to arise amidst the white population.
In the colony, white people dominated society and played a huge factor in the formation of Haiti. When the French Revolution broke out, many different groups were formed in the Saint Domingue colony (The U.S and the Haitian Revolution). In the white population, two main groups were being formed: the grands blancs and the petits blancs. The grand blancs were fighting to try and gain freedom to represent the colony, while the peitis blancs demanded political equality with the grands. (Haitian Revolution, Michigan State) Meanwhile, the gens de couleur (people of color) and the slaves were pushing for more civil rights. Motivated by revolts by the gens de couleur, the slaves planned to rebel. (The U.S and the Haitian Revolution)
Their eventual leader, Toussaint L’Ouverture, was born into slavery on May 20, 1743. When the slaves rebelled by setting fire to the whites’ plantations on August 22nd, 1791, L’Ouverture decided to join the new rising tide. In a letter written by a French plantation owner who was living during the time said “The Negroes are in a state of insurrection; they have burnt many habitations, which had remained untouched till this day. The Negroes will not work... The mask is thrown off—the Negroes say, haughtily, that St. Domingo belongs to them.” (World History in Documents; A Comparative Reader, second edition; edited by Peter N. Stearns) Looking deeper into the frenchman's letter, the slaves’ actions appeared aggressive, reflecting their extreme frustration with their poor living conditions and desire to change their lifestyle. These events, which can be considered “spark” causes, also created long-term effects, including the abolishment of slavery and St. Domingue’s separation from France.
Prior to the French Revolution, France enforced a system called the "exclusif" on Saint-Domingue. This required that Saint-Domingue sold 100% of her exports to France alone, and purchased 100% of her imports from France alone (Webster). In other words mercantilism.
In conclusion, contentions between the white population created an opening for the slaves and “colored people” to seize the opportunity to act and rebel. These “spark” events also contributed to the abolishment of slavery and independence of Haiti.
In the colony, white people dominated society and played a huge factor in the formation of Haiti. When the French Revolution broke out, many different groups were formed in the Saint Domingue colony (The U.S and the Haitian Revolution). In the white population, two main groups were being formed: the grands blancs and the petits blancs. The grand blancs were fighting to try and gain freedom to represent the colony, while the peitis blancs demanded political equality with the grands. (Haitian Revolution, Michigan State) Meanwhile, the gens de couleur (people of color) and the slaves were pushing for more civil rights. Motivated by revolts by the gens de couleur, the slaves planned to rebel. (The U.S and the Haitian Revolution)
Their eventual leader, Toussaint L’Ouverture, was born into slavery on May 20, 1743. When the slaves rebelled by setting fire to the whites’ plantations on August 22nd, 1791, L’Ouverture decided to join the new rising tide. In a letter written by a French plantation owner who was living during the time said “The Negroes are in a state of insurrection; they have burnt many habitations, which had remained untouched till this day. The Negroes will not work... The mask is thrown off—the Negroes say, haughtily, that St. Domingo belongs to them.” (World History in Documents; A Comparative Reader, second edition; edited by Peter N. Stearns) Looking deeper into the frenchman's letter, the slaves’ actions appeared aggressive, reflecting their extreme frustration with their poor living conditions and desire to change their lifestyle. These events, which can be considered “spark” causes, also created long-term effects, including the abolishment of slavery and St. Domingue’s separation from France.
Prior to the French Revolution, France enforced a system called the "exclusif" on Saint-Domingue. This required that Saint-Domingue sold 100% of her exports to France alone, and purchased 100% of her imports from France alone (Webster). In other words mercantilism.
In conclusion, contentions between the white population created an opening for the slaves and “colored people” to seize the opportunity to act and rebel. These “spark” events also contributed to the abolishment of slavery and independence of Haiti.