Aim: What grade should we give to the Haitian Revolution?

Reasons Enlightened Philosophes did not free their slaves

• Slaves are brutes, uncivilized – incapable of reason

• We have to teach them in our society

• Slaves are property!!!!!

• Protecting their own wealth and income

• Against the “general will”

• Racism

Enlightenment idea of “Rights” vs.

Class, Race, Gender

Haiti before the Revolution

• White plantation and slaveholders

• Gens de couleur”:

– Black plantation and slaveholders

• Mulattos, other freed black peasants

• Huge #s of Slaves, worked oppressively

The Process of the Revolution• French Revolution declares equality• White planters seek independence• Free blacks go to Paris, demand social equality w/

whites on Haiti, but no end to slavery• Slave rebellions begin in Haiti• “Radical Revolution” in France abolishes slavery• English, Spanish seek to woo slaveholders and re-

impose slavery

The Process of the Revolution• French Revolution declares equality• Free blacks go to Paris, demand social

equality w/ whites on Haiti, but no end to slavery

• Slave rebellions begin in Haiti• “Radical Revolution” in France abolishes

slavery• English, Spanish seek to woo slaveholders

and re-impose slavery

The Process of the Revolution

• Napoleon sends an army to re-impose slavery

• Unity of gens de couleur and former slaves: Toussaint L’Ouverture, Dessalines lead independence revolution

• 1st successful slave rebellion, 2nd successful colonial rebellion

Afterwards: Problems of the Revolution

• Vast inequalities in social class and education – elites rule

• Race tensions among blacks based on skin color

• Plantations destroyed – slaves seize land for small self-sufficient farms

• Jefferson (US) embargoes all trade with Haiti

Haiti: An Early Example of Imperialism

1. Colonialists destroy indigenous culture and society

2. Colonialists create a new social structure: - a few European elites - somewhat more native (Haitian) elites- a huge number of oppressed

Different class interests, even after revolution (whose revolution is it?)

Haiti: An Early Example of Imperialism

3. Colonialists create a new economic system (plantation agriculture) based on oppression

4. Colonialists educate only a handful of native elites

5. Interference from the West continues even after the revolution

Should you change the economic system after the revolution?

Who should rule after the revolution?