Haitian Revolution and Saint-Domingue Overview

Practice flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on the Haitian Revolution, Saint-Domingue’s social structure, economy, major figures, and the revolutionary context within the Atlantic world.

What two revolutions converge in the Haitian Revolution, and how do they relate to the Atlantic world context?

A slave rebellion against slavery and a movement for equal citizenship by free people of color, contemporaneous with the French Revolution and shaped by Enlightenment ideas across the Atlantic world.

What is the difference between a 'slave society' and a 'society with slaves' in the Saint-Domingue context?

A slave society is built on slavery as the core of its economy and social structure (Saint-Domingue had about 90% enslaved); a society with slaves has enslaved people but slavery is not the defining pillar.

Which colonial powers and partitions governed Hispaniola before the Haitian Revolution, and what are the modern names of those states?

The island was divided into the Spanish Santo Domingo (east) and the French Saint-Domingue (west); Santo Domingo became the Dominican Republic, Saint-Domingue became Haiti.

Who were the Grand Blancs and Petit Blancs in Saint-Domingue, and what did they represent?

Grand Blancs were wealthy white colonists from France; Petit Blancs were lesser whites ( Creoles, laborers, tradespeople). Both were part of the white ruling class, with Grand Blancs holding the wealth and power.

Who were the gens de couleur libres and what did they seek during the revolution?

Free people of color, often mixed-race; they sought liberty and citizenship, sometimes owned enslaved people, and aimed for equal rights with whites.

How dominant was Saint-Domingue in 18th-century global sugar and coffee markets?

Saint-Domingue produced about 60% of the world’s sugar and about 40% of the world’s coffee, making it extraordinarily profitable for a small elite.

Who was Francois Macandal, and what role did he play in resistance up to the Haitian Revolution?

Francois (Macandal) was an enslaved man from the Atlas Mountains who led early resistance, combining Vodou and Islam influences; he lost a hand in an accident and became a legendary figure in resistance.

What happened at Guacagua (Bois Caïman) in August 1791, and why is it significant?

About 200 enslaved people gathered in an organized ceremony to plan a general uprising, swear an oath, and initiate the largest sustained slave rebellion in history.

Who was Boukman Dutty and what was his role in the uprising?

Boukman Dutty was a Vodou priest and early rebel organizer who led the uprising and was killed early in the rebellion.

Who was Cecile Fatimah and why is she important to the Haitian Revolution?

Cecile Fatimah was a mambo (Vodou priestess), a lead organizer and chronicler of the revolution, who lived to age 112 and became a key figure in the movement.

How did religion function as a form of resistance during the uprising?

Religion provided organization, morale, and a framework for resistance; the rebels inverted the Christian narrative to argue for vengeance and liberation, using Vodou ceremonies to connect enslaved communities.

Why is the Haitian Revolution described as two revolutions converging, and how did it connect to the French Revolution?

One revolution was the enslaved uprising against slavery; the other was free people of color seeking citizenship and equality. Both were influenced by the French Revolution’s ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity and intersected in Saint-Domingue.

What does the lecture mean by Saint-Domingue being a 'slave society' and how did that relate to profits and ownership?

The economy and society were built on slavery; wealth flowed to a tiny ruling class of landowners, with enslaved people doing the labor and receiving none of the profits.

What role did yellow fever and disease play in the transatlantic slave trade to Saint-Domingue?

Many Africans died from diseases like yellow fever after being brought to Saint-Domingue; roughly half died within six months of arrival, illustrating extreme risks and why mortality shaped the slave system.

How did Haiti’s revolution affect Western portrayals of the country and its broader influence on global ideas?

Haiti was often depicted as terrifying or backward in Western media, but the revolution profoundly influenced anti-slavery and anti-colonial thought and contributed to ideas about rights and citizenship that resonated globally.