Hatian Revolution DBQ first paragraph

Time & Place

Late 1700s, Saint-Domingue (French colony), one of the richest colonies due to sugar and coffee plantations.

Economic Foundation

Wealth depended almost entirely on enslaved labor; extreme exploitation made the system unstable.

Social Structure

Highly unequal society: white elites, free people of color, enslaved majority with no rights or mobility.

Social Tensions

Rigid racial and class hierarchies caused resentment, conflict, and growing unrest.

Economic Pressure

Wealth concentrated among a few; competition over profits and trade increased desperation.

Ideas & Context (Safe Contextualization)

New Atlantic-world ideas challenged inequality and made people question existing social structures.

Big Historical Question

What were the main causes of the Haitian Revolution?

Thesis (Categories)

Main causes were social and economic, not primarily political.

Social Cause (Thesis Detail)

Conflict between racial and social classes fueled unrest.

Economic Cause (Thesis Detail)

Dependence on enslaved labor and unequal distribution of wealth pushed the colony toward revolution.