Lecture 04 Haitian Independence Flashcards
(46 cards)
What social system was prevalent in colonial Latin America besides feudalism?
Colonial Latin America was also ordered along racial lines, which added complexity to social and political relationships.
Who were the Peninsulares in colonial Latin America?
Peninsulares were people born in Spain or Portugal living in the Americas. They made up approximately 0.1% of the population, about 30,000 people.
Who were the Creoles in colonial Latin America?
Creoles were people of Spanish or Portuguese descent born in the Americas, comprising around 23% of the population, about 3.5 million people.
Who were the Mestizos in colonial Latin America?
Mestizos were people of mixed race in colonial Latin America.
Who were the Amerindians in colonial Latin America?
Amerindians were the indigenous population of colonial Latin America.
Who were the Slaves in colonial Latin America?
Slaves were Africans sold into bondage and brought to the Americas to work as laborers.
What makes the Haitian Revolution unique in the history of revolutions?
The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) was the first and only successful revolution by slaves in the modern era.
What was the role of slavery in the economy of Saint Domingue?
Slavery was essential to the economy of Saint Domingue, particularly in the production of sugar, coffee, and indigo.
How is the Haitian Revolution considered to be three revolutions in one?
The Haitian Revolution involved:
1.A pre-emptive rebellion by conservative white landholders to secure independence.
2.An attempt by free blacks to secure status and privileges as citizens and break the power of whites.
3.An uprising by the largest slave population outside the U.S. and Brazil.
What was the economic importance of Saint Domingue (Haiti) to France before the revolution?
Saint Domingue was one of the wealthiest colonies in the Americas, producing 60% of the world’s coffee and 40% of the world’s sugar. It represented 40% of France’s international trade and 2/3 of France’s overseas investment.
What was the population of Saint Domingue in 1789, and how many were slaves?
In 1789, Saint Domingue had a population of about 524,000, with 465,000 of them being slaves.
What were the Code Noir and its significance in colonial Haiti?
The Code Noir (1685) was a set of laws governing the conduct of slave owners in Saint Domingue. However, it provided very little real protection for slaves and was part of the social stratification system in the colony.
What methods did French colonists use to prevent slave uprisings?
They separated slaves from the same tribes, restricted their travel and movement, forbade gatherings, and used brutal punishments.
What was the demographic and economic significance of white landholders in Saint Domingue?
White landholders represented less than 6% of the population but controlled political, economic, and social power with 730 sugar plantations, 3,000 coffee plantations, and about 3,000 indigo plantations by 1789.
Why did white landholders in Saint Domingue resent France?
They resented the metropole’s attempts to regulate their economic and political life, desiring rights and independence similar to those granted to British landowners.
How did white landholders in Saint Domingue leverage the French Revolution?
They used France’s financial crisis and the summoning of the Estates General to gain political and economic independence, supporting the Third Estate against royal and aristocratic privilege while sidestepping the question of slavery.
What did the Laws of March 1790 grant to the colonies?
The colonies were allowed to regulate their internal affairs and authorized “citizens” to elect representatives to local assemblies.
How did white landholders react to the growing radicalization of the French Revolution?
The radicalization pushed them toward independence from France, and they lobbied the National Assembly to include representatives from the colonies.
Why were free blacks unable to secure representation in the Estates General?
Whites blocked free blacks from participating and further stymied their efforts to influence the National Assembly.
How did white landholders interpret the Laws of March 1790?
They claimed the right to define “citizenship” and excluded blacks from participating, as they were not regarded as “citizens.”
What was the significance of the insurrection led by Vincent Ogé (1790)?
The failed insurrection convinced many free blacks that peaceful methods would not achieve their goals and catalyzed the “Rewbell Amendment.”
What did the “Rewbell Amendment” (1791) grant?
It granted full political rights to free men of color whose parents were also free.
Why did white landholders view the “Rewbell Amendment” as a threat?
They saw it as a usurpation of their ability to regulate their own affairs by the National Assembly, even though the amendment affected very few people.
How was a rebellious slave executed, according to an eyewitness account?
He was tied to a cross, had his hand chopped off, his bones smashed, and survived for several hours, begging to be finished off, before being beheaded.
