The Haitian Revolution: 1791-1804

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, figures, events, and concepts related to the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), its background, and its legacy.

Haitian Revolution

A successful revolt led by enslaved people in Saint-Domingue from 1791-1804, resulting in Haiti's independence.

Saint-Domingue

The French colony on the western part of Hispaniola, known for being a rich Caribbean colony and the site of the Haitian Revolution.

Haiti

The independent nation that emerged from the former French colony of Saint-Domingue after the revolution, becoming the world's first black republic.

Dominican Republic

The modern-day nation that occupies the eastern part of Hispaniola, formerly the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo.

Colony

A territory or settlement controlled by another country, often exploited for its resources and labor.

Hispaniola

The Caribbean island shared by the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo and the French colony of Saint-Domingue.

Treaty of Ryswick (1697)

A treaty by which France formally obtained the western third of Hispaniola (Saint-Domingue) from Spain.

Le Code Noir

A French legal document that defined the conditions of slavery in French colonies, including Saint-Domingue, allowing masters to chain and beat their slaves.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A foundational document of the French Revolution declaring that "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights," which was incompatible with the practice of slavery.

Maroon Communities

Remote refugee settlements formed by enslaved Africans who had escaped plantations, serving as a significant form of resistance in Saint-Domingue.

Marronage

The act of enslaved people resisting slavery by escaping and forming communities, considered the most viable and consistent form of resistance in Saint-Domingue.

Vodou

A syncretic religion practiced in Haiti, combining elements of Roman Catholicism and West African tribal religions, which provided cultural expression and a rallying point for enslaved people.

Bon Dieu

The high god worshipped in Vodou.

Bois Caiman

A secret meeting and Vodou ceremony held by enslaved Africans on August 14, 1791, where an uprising against French masters was plotted and initiated.

Dutty Boukman

A Vodou priest and a key leader who organized and led the initial uprising of enslaved people at Bois Caiman in August 1791, urging vengeance and liberty.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

A former enslaved man who became a brilliant military leader, organizing enslaved people into effective units and leading the Haitian Revolution to successfully defeat French, Spanish, and British forces.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines

A gifted field commander and successor to Toussaint L'Ouverture, who led the final stages of the Haitian Revolution, declared Haiti's independence, and became its first emperor.

Louisiana Purchase

The sale of French territory to the United States, influenced by France's financial losses and military distractions from the Haitian Revolution, which doubled the size of the U.S. and expanded slavery.

Indemnity Payment (1825)

A payment of 150,000,000 Francs levied by France on Haiti for diplomatic and economic recognition, which severely burdened Haiti's newly independent economy.

First Black Republic

The designation of Haiti in 1804, being the first nation in the world established and governed by people of African descent who had overthrown slavery.

Haitian Creole

A language developed on Haitian sugarcane plantations from contacts between French colonists and African slaves, based largely on 18th-century French with influences from Portuguese, Aramaic, Spanish, Taíno, and West African languages.

What is Bois Caiman and why is it considered the setting of the uprising?

A forest site where enslaved people gathered, performed a voodoo ceremony, and plotted the uprising in 1791.

What are maroon communities, and how did they form and spread beyond Saint-Domingue?

Maroon communities were enslaved Africans who escaped and formed remote settlements; they existed across the Americas, including beyond Saint-Domingue.

In what year did Haiti declare independence, and who was the key leader in the final push?

Independence declared in 1804; Dessalines led the final push.

What happened to LOuverture when Napoleon sent a French expedition to reclaim Saint-Domingue?

He was captured and imprisoned in France (later died in captivity).

What claim about the Haitian Revolution is described as the only successful revolt of enslaved people in world history?

It is the only known successful slave revolt in world history.

Who was Dutty Boukman and what message did his prayer deliver to enslaved people?

Boukman was a Vodou priest who urged liberty and resistance, signaling divine support for revolt against oppressors.

Why was Saint-Domingue the most lucrative colony for France (crops such as sugar, coffee, cotton)?

It produced vast quantities of sugar, coffee, cotton and was central to France’s foreign trade and wealth.

What are the long-term political and economic legacies of the Haitian Revolution for Haiti and the world?

First black-led republic; symbol of freedom; influenced global anti-slavery movements; economic and political instability; racist trade barriers for Haiti.

What challenges do historians face when studying maroon communities?

Limited, scattered, and sometimes romanticized sources; difficult to verify migrations, languages, and exact numbers.

How did the revolution influence the Louisiana Purchase and the expansion of the United States?

Frances inability to hold Saint-Domingue lowered its global power, contributing to selling Louisiana to the US, enabling US expansion.

What is Haitian Creole, and what languages and cultures contributed to its development?

A creole language primarily based on 18th-century French, with influences from Portuguese, Aramaic, Spanish, Taíno, and West African languages.

Why did France attempt to reassert control, and why did that effort fail?

France sought to reinstate slavery and restore control; failure due to yellow fever, supply issues, and Haitian resistance.

Roughly what were the racial demographics of Saint-Domingue in the 18th century (whites, free people of color, mulattoes, enslaved Africans)?

Whites ~7%, Free people of color ~5%, Mulattoes ~2.5%, Enslaved Africans ~88% (about 1/2 million).

On the island of Hispaniola, what are the modern-day countries that occupy the western and eastern parts, and which country controlled Saint-Domingue in the 18th century?

West: Haiti; East: Dominican Republic. Saint-Domingue was controlled by France in the 18th century.

How did LOuverture manage to defeat the French, Spanish, and British forces at different times?

By switching allegiances strategically (Spanish, then French), forming alliances, and using military skill to defeat each force at different times.

Who led the revolution after LOuverture, and what title did he eventually hold?

Jean-Jacques Dessalines led after LOuverture and became Emperor of Haiti (October 1804).

What were some of the post-revolution economic aims and policies in Haiti under Dessalines?

Dessalines sought to restructure the economy, defend independence, and enforce production; details include efforts to sustain sugar/crop production amid upheaval.

How did the revolution shape ideas about race, sovereignty, and freedom in the wider world?

It challenged racial hierarchies, inspired enslaved peoples, and forced European powers to reconsider colonial rule and abolition debates.

Why did LOuverture switch sides from Spain to France, and what position did he eventually hold?

France abolished slavery; he aligned with France and became Governor-General of Saint-Domingue for the French.

How might focusing on maroon communities alter the traditional narrative of enslaved people?

Highlights agency, resistance strategies, and community resilience beyond plantation settings; broadens understanding of enslaved life.

What massacres and violence occurred against whites and mixed-race populations during Haitis move to independence?

In the 1804 phase, mass violence included killings of white populations and attacks on mixed-race groups; described as brutal upheaval.

What was the Code Noir and why was it significant?

A legal code governing enslaved people in Saint-Domingue; it codified control and the legal framework of slavery.

What is Vodou, and how did it blend elements of Catholicism and West African religious beliefs?

Vodou is a religion combining Roman Catholicism with West African spiritual traditions; worships Bon Dieu and ancestors.

According to the slides, how many people speak Haitian Creole, and what is its role in Haiti today?

Roughly ten to twelve million speakers; it is widely spoken and is a dominant language in Haiti alongside French.

What were the historical terms used to describe people of mixed race in the 18th century, and what terms are preferred today?

Used: colored and mulatto; today: people of color and mixed race with person-first language.

What were the typical death rates and working conditions faced by enslaved people in Saint-Domingue?

Death rate around 50% within a few years; brutal overwork, 12-hour days, insufficient food, torture for resistance.

How did Toussaint LOuverture rise from an emancipated enslaved person to a military leader?

He emancipated himself, organized enslaved people into military units, and gained leadership through strategic authority.

How did the United States respond to Haitis independence, including references to the Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary?

The US resisted formal recognition early; later, Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary asserted US influence in the Americas and backyard.

What is the significance of Dutty Boukman’s proclamation about liberty versus the white god in understanding resistance?

Framed resistance as a moral and spiritual battle, mobilizing enslaved people around the idea of liberty against oppression.

What linguistic influences underpin Haitian Creole (French base with influences from Portuguese, Aramaic, Spanish, Taíno, and West African languages)?

French base with influences from Portuguese, Aramaic, Spanish, Taíno, and West African languages.