The Haitian Revolution Flashcards
(39 cards)
Who lived on the island of Hispaniola before the Europeans came?
The Tainos.
Explain the difference between Santo Domingo, Saint-Domingue, and Hispaniola.
Hispaniola was the island where these colonies were located, Santo Domigo was the eastern Spanish colony, and Saint-Domingue was the western French colony.
List three crops grown in Saint-Domingue.
Sugar, coffee, tobacco.
In 1791, how many slaves and white people lived in Saint-Domingue?
500,000 slaves, 32,000 whites.
Why were some slaves considered elite?
They had positions of authority in their household and were trusted by their masters.
Who were the affranchis?
Free people of color, often the children of a white man and black woman.
What was the Black Code?
A code that detailed France’s rules and position regarding colonial slavery.
List three ways that slaves resisted their masters prior to the revolution.
Suicide and infanticide, Vodou, cultural practices like dancing.
Who were the maroons?
Black slaves who ran away from their plantations and formed communities in the mountains.
Who was Francois Makandal and what was his plan?
He was a maroon leader who planned to poison all the whites in the northern part of the colony.
What revolution began in 1789 and what effect did it have on Saint-Domingue?
French Revolution. It sowed division between the groups of people in the colony because certain groups interpreted the Declaration of Rights of Man differently.
What did each group want from the Declaration of Rights of Man?
Upper whites=protection for privileges
Lower whites and affranchis=equal privilieges
When did the rebellion begin, where, and what was the original goal?
1791, August, the original goal was improved treatment and living conditions for slaves but morphed into a desire for outright freedom.
Three countries were involved in the Revolution. Name them.
France, Spain, and Britain.
How did rebel leaders define freedom?
Emancipation of all slaves, but not the abolition of the plantation system.
How did the masses define freedom?
The ability to possess and work their own land; no more laboring for others.
What caused the Civil War in Saint-Domingue in 1799?
The two leaders, Rigaud and Louverture, had different officials: Rigaud had mulatto officials who were slave owners before the Revolution and wanted to protect their status, while Louverture’s officials were all black and feared Rigaud’s officials reinstating slavery.
Why did the US support Louverture during the 1799 Civil War?
They wanted the beneficial trade relationship with Saint-Domingue and thought that it may lead to Saint-Domingue’s independence, weakening France.
What effect did the Thirty Years’ War have on Saint-Domingue? What event happened next?
The population and economy crashed. Next, Nine Years’ War.
What effect did the Nine Years’ War have on Saint-Domingue? What event came next?
The French colony of Saint-Domingue was established and became lucrative for its coffee and sugar trade. Next, American Rev.
What came after the American Revolution and what effect did it have? What came next?
French Rev, it spread Enlightenment ideals to Haiti and violence grew. Next, Declaration of Rights of Man.
What effect did the Declaration of Rights of Man have? What came next?
It sowed division between the population groups in Saint-Domingue. Next, Haitian Rev started.
After the Haitian Revolution started, what happened? Next?
War of the First Coalition. Spain and Britain tried to invade Saint-Domingue. Next, France abolished colonial slavery.
After France abolished slavery, what happened? Next?
New French Constitution was established and said that different laws would govern the colonies, and many feared slavery returning. Next, Saint-Domingue constitution proclaimed by Louverture.
