Haitian Revolution and End of Slavery

St. Domingue

Now referred to as Haiti. The western part of an island in the Caribbean called Hispaniola.

Grand Blancs

(Big whites) Wealthy, white slave owners. Typically French men who left France to seek new economic opportunities.

gens de couleur

Free men and women of color in Haiti. They sought greater political rights and later supported the Haitian Revolution.

Maroons

Escaped slaves living in groups in the mountains

Dutty Boukman

An escaped enslaved person persuaded other enslaved to rebel against plantation owners for the first time.

Boukman's (Maroon) Rebellion

(1791) Slaves and maroons caused mass destruction to plantations and killed many Grand Blancs and freed many slaves

Toussaint L'Ouverture

A war general who becomes a leader. He writes the Constitution of 1801 without Napoleon's approval.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines

A man who comes to power after Toussaint is captured. He is the one that makes Haiti independent.

Hispaniola

The name of the entire island that now has modern day Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Decree of May 1791

Expanded the rights of Gens de Coleur, however sparked Maroon revolts

Vincent Oge

Free man of color who returned to st. Dominique from Paris who raised an army demanding political rights. He was then killed by the colonial government of St. Domingue

1793 Law

France Abolishes slavery, however it is reinstated a few years later under Napoleons government

War of the Castes

The Gens de couleur wanted to reinstate slavery. The former slave army attacks and kills most of the Gens de Coleur

Plantation system

A push by L'ouverture after the country became impoverished that was very similar to slavery, however laborers had a few more rights.

Slavery in Haiti

Slavery was especially brutal in sugar-growing regions because the crop was so labor intensive

1793-1799

Toussaint Rejoins France for added protection. During this time period Toussaint defeats Spanish and English attackers.

substinance farming

when farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves rather than enough to sell excess for profit.

Samuel Sharpe

leader of slave rebellion in Jamaica. He intended to have the rebellion be a peaceful protest, however after 3 days without progress it turned violent

British abolition of Slavery

1833 - 15 months after Christmas Rebellion

German Coast Uprising (1811)

Led by Charles Deslondes, 500 enslaved people overthrow masters in 1811, march towards New Orleans, after 3 days militia brutally puts down rebellion - Inspired by Haitian Revolution

Barbados Rebellion

1816 - Led by General Bussa - inspired by Haitian Revolution