Social
Social Causes of the Haitian revolution consisted of many disagreements between the various social groups that lived in the Island, since none of them were happy with how they were treated. Here you can see how the Island of Saint Domingue's hierarchy eventually lead to the slave's revolt in 1791.
Before
Despite starting small economically, the island of Saint Domingue (now known as Haiti), developed to be one of the richest islands in the world, with a really organized, yet unfairly divided society. Before The Revolution, the Island of Saint Domingue was used as a Pirate outpost. Later, the French convinced these pirates to give up piracy and settle on the Island. The pirates accepted and used their wealth to create large plantations. In these plantations, a massive amount of sugar was produced in extremely low working conditions (Crash Course). Soon, Saint Domingue was trading so much of this sugar, that it became one of the most valuable islands in the world. Though being wealth was a big achievement, it also came with a downside. The Island had the second largest slave count in the world after Brazil. By the 18th century, more slaves were brought in from Africa every year, than the entire white population of the island. Constantly raising by these numbers, by the 19th century the island’s population consisted 90% of slaves (Crash Course). These slaves lived under terrible conditions. Yellow fever, small pox, and miserable working conditions did not allow growth of the slave population through reproduction (Crash Course). The population growth was only caused by new imports. Plantations were known to have up to 200 slaves. This harsh slavery created separations in the social classes of Saint Domingue. At the time, colonial society was divided into 4 groups:
In the highest positions came the White Planters. These were the wealthiest, since they were the ones who owned the plantations, and the slaves.
Next, came the free people of color. This Social class was created by children of the white men and slave women. This children were often freed from slavery by their fathers, since they were higher in the social ladder. The wealthy free people of color even could own plantations and slaves of their own.
Then came the Petit Blancs, which is French for the “poor whites”. The petit blancs were often shopkeepers, artisans, and teachers.
Last in the hierarchy came the slaves, who were brought in from Africa to work in the sugar plantations. They slaves had extremely poor working conditions and they weren’t payed for their labor. (Crash Course)
All of these social separations played a huge role later on, which would later influence the revolution.
Causes
The Haitian Revolution, which is known as history’s most successful slave rebellion, was caused by a series of events that led to the slaves revolting against their owners. These series of events ranged from the large and well known French Revolution (a long term cause of the rebellion) to the granting of citizenship to free people of color, as well as Toussaint L’ Overture’s rise as commander. All of these events sparked the slaves to revolt.
The large long term cause which led to the Haitian revolution was the French Revolution, which began in 1789. When this occurred, the four main social groups in the island of Saint Domingue were unhappy for their own individual reasons. At the bottom, the slaves were extremely unhappy due to their poor and unfair treatment on the plantations. At a higher social status, the petit blancs were resentful of free people of color because they had more rights and wealth. They also didn’t like that they could not afford to own slaves. The free people of color were angry because they were subjected to legal discrimination. They had fewer economic rights than the white planters. Finally at the top, the white planters were against French trade regulations and newly imposed requirements to improve slave working conditions (a result of the French Revolution). (Crash Course) All of this unease between the social classes began to create tension, which would later spark the slave revolt, thus making the French Revolution a long term cause of the rebellion in Saint Domingue.
Another result of the French Revolution was also a spark cause of the Haitian slave revolt. In 1791, the National Assembly of France gave full French citizenship to free people of color (Crash Course). This infuriated the petit blancs, who were already resentful of this social class, thus leading to fighting between them and the newly French people of color.
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. 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 gain their freedom (Haitian Revolution, BlackPast). Inspired by the French Revolution, or more specifically, the french “Declaration of Rights of Man”, L’Overture managed to organize the slaves into a successful, strong army, which managed to fight off large military powers. In fact, his slave army was so grand, that 1792, a year after the slaves started to revolt, they controlled about of third of the island (Haitian Revolution, BlackPast).
The large long term cause which led to the Haitian revolution was the French Revolution, which began in 1789. When this occurred, the four main social groups in the island of Saint Domingue were unhappy for their own individual reasons. At the bottom, the slaves were extremely unhappy due to their poor and unfair treatment on the plantations. At a higher social status, the petit blancs were resentful of free people of color because they had more rights and wealth. They also didn’t like that they could not afford to own slaves. The free people of color were angry because they were subjected to legal discrimination. They had fewer economic rights than the white planters. Finally at the top, the white planters were against French trade regulations and newly imposed requirements to improve slave working conditions (a result of the French Revolution). (Crash Course) All of this unease between the social classes began to create tension, which would later spark the slave revolt, thus making the French Revolution a long term cause of the rebellion in Saint Domingue.
Another result of the French Revolution was also a spark cause of the Haitian slave revolt. In 1791, the National Assembly of France gave full French citizenship to free people of color (Crash Course). This infuriated the petit blancs, who were already resentful of this social class, thus leading to fighting between them and the newly French people of color.
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. 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 gain their freedom (Haitian Revolution, BlackPast). Inspired by the French Revolution, or more specifically, the french “Declaration of Rights of Man”, L’Overture managed to organize the slaves into a successful, strong army, which managed to fight off large military powers. In fact, his slave army was so grand, that 1792, a year after the slaves started to revolt, they controlled about of third of the island (Haitian Revolution, BlackPast).