Geggus Haitian Revolution 86-105

Jean Francois thinks that the French misunderstands their position, and
that they only vaguely understand the nature of the Haitian revolution.
Asks for freedom for a certain number of slave leaders, in order to
ensure peace and not chaos. Otherwise an army will rise up
They also want French troops
Gros and other white prisoners were released after Jean-Francoiss
meeting with the commisars in mid-December. However, no further
progress was made. Colonial Assembly didnt want to make any
concessions, and slaves didnt want to be sold out by their leaders
Women slaves super harsh
Slaves awesome at fighting because guerilla warfare. Also generally
had more experience than the whites.
August 1793: EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES. First abolition of slavery in a
major slave society, only case that was a response to slave rebellion.
Also due to outbreak of war between colonial powers in feb and march
1793, and also because of the arrival of Commissaire Civil Sonthonax
How does spain figure into all of this???
Law of 16 pluviose II (4 February 1794): no more slavery in all of
Frances colonies
Abolitionist reaction to the emancipation: give it thought, therefore,
not to suddenly freeing your slaves, but to preparing for it and to
improving their lot
Slave Revolution of 1791
Supes hard to get a focus on events from primary sources
Eyewitnesses arent always trustworthy
In the fall of 1791, huge organized revolt of slaves in northern
part of Saint-Domingue
Plantations within weeks all on fire, many owners killed/fled.
Large black army
Government in France has only granted rights to FREE BORN
MEN OF COLOR
There have been revolts before. 1791 is unique because of the
scope and length
Why? Sheer numbers involved (huge number of slaves in SD who
rise up and outnumber colonial militia). Also because of chaos on
the island because of French Revolution (free men of color vs.
white planters).
In free men of color vs. white planter war, they BOTH arm their
slaves. Offer them freedom. YAY LOTS OF CHAOS
Paris view: Bois Caiman barbarous. Haitians from the devil
because of Vodou. Giving rights to free men of color causes lots
of chaos.

Lots of depictions of massacres, showing whites as victims. Even

though theres actually atrocities from both sides.
No one highlights that all of this is engendered by slavery. Often
depicted as a wanton, savage, massacre coming from no where.
Lots of propaganda blames this on the French and on the
national assembly.
White planters: we want no more of this French liberty
War will become increasingly RACIALIZED. Shifts how the war is
perceived
Far more blacks were killed in the first months of the revolt than
whites (4000 vs 400). So boo propaganda.
Guerilla warfare.
War happens mainly in the north where the plantations are.
history has never recounted anything so dramatic, and it will
never dare tell all that we have suffered
Armies
Early leaders: Boukman (part of the Bois Caiman ceremony. Part
of earliest attacks, later captured and killed), Jean-Franois,
Georges Biassou. Fighting the colonial powers.
Taking black slaves from plantations as PoW, selling them to the
Spanish for arms
White planters cannot abide by the terms because they dont
want to negotiate with slaves
Not really an emancipation struggle initially. Becomes more so w/
Toussaint lOverture
What is motivation for leaders? (Geggus 87)
Amnesty for themselves and for their armies
Not necessarily freedom or emancipation
Promised to return many soldiers to plantations
By making these demands, its pretty radical because that
had never happened before.
Way too many battles going on
Unexpected developments
When Louis XVI calls the estates general, no one excepts the
revolution to result. In short: the creation of the national
assembly is surprising
No one expects Louis XVI to be executed