Slave rebellion turned revolution two years after French revolution
Europeans considered it impossible for the slaves to have sufficient agency to be successful
European imperialism and colonialism placed African slaves at the bottom of human
civilization, without culture, brutish and responding only to commands as an animal would
Slave rebellion broke/challenged this conception
A conspiracy engineered by the enemies of France or by royalists (those wanting to restore
monarchy after the French revolution)
The rebellion defied the legitimacy of enslavement and shoot ontological foundations of
western discourse
Foreground issue of slavery in the Caribbean and North America
Historians have deliberately marginalized history of Haiti because it challenged French
conceptions of national identity
Colonial History of Haiti:
Haiti was part of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic) and after Columbus, Tanio population was wiped out
(European disease and conflict).
Gold was coveted by Columbus and Spaniards and once it was exhausted, they lost interest.
French arrived in 17th century and Spain ceded territory in 1697 (Treat of Ryswick, end of Nine Years
War between French, Grand Alliance of Britain, Spain and Holy Roman Empire) and became Saint
Domingue.
St Domingue exported 40% of France’s foreign trade of cash crops like sugar and coffee. French
Caribbean was connected to French Territory (Louisiana) through importation of timber, rice and furs.
USA bough territory of Louisiana for USD 15 million, Louisiana Purchase
Grand blancs Petite blancs Gens de couleur Black Slaves
Wealthy whites Plantation overseers, Free, upwardly mobile, Hierarchy among the slaves
artisans, merchants some owned slaves based on labour use: domestic
and plantations slaves had higher statueses than
field slaves
Full citizens Full citizens Limited political rights Exceptionally brutal towards
and social privileges slaves: frequently whipped and
owing to their race denied civil liberties
(freed blacks and
mulattoes)
A threat to the whites:
often more educated,
wealthy and cultured
than the petit blancs
Sainte Domingue: North, South and Central-Western units/provinces
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