Age of Revolutions

Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers and exploiting it economically
Colonialism sparked the Haitian Revolution because of the constant mistreatment and abuse towards the enslaved workers
Haiti/Saint-Domingue became one of the richest colony in the wold because it was built on the sugar and coffee plantations which was successful only based off of slave brutality towards African Americans from colonialism.
- The slaves made up the majority of the population yet they were denied rights, had no freedom, and went through excruciating living conditions and labor it led to many of the slaves having deep resentment which also helped them inspire each other to start the Haitian Revolution.
The French Revolution also influenced the enslaved people to start the rebellion from the French Revolution bringing in the idea of all people should be treated equally even though the African slaves were still being mistreated.

There was a big influence from the French Revolution which helped inspire the slaves to start the Haitian Revolution
There were three distinct classes in St. Domingue:
- The Whites: In control, had all the rights, free
- Free mixed people: Had some freedom but not all of it, repressed by the conservative white power structure, weren’t enslaved
- Enslaved: had no freedom, went through the harshest treatment in the Caribbean, were considered to be property of the public
Code Noir: Created in 1685 by King Louis XIV (14). Main guidelines for controlling slavery in French colonies until 1789.
-first rule tole al Jewish people to leave the colonies and they weren’t allowed to own land or enslaved people.
-requirement for all enslaved people to be taught Catholicism instead of any other relgion.
-Anyone born from an enslaved woman stayed enslaved throughout their life
-Gave no rights towards enslaved people and even had rules on how the enslaves people should behave
-Made sure that the owners had to take care of their slaves if they were sick or old (probably didn’t happen though)
-Sundays and holidays are for not working so no slaves were allowed to work
-no weapons were allowed to be in the hands of a slave to avoid the chances of the slaves using it in a way that wouldn’t fit the owners way such as rebelling against them unless they had a handwritten note or contract saying that the slave would be allowed to use that weapon to hunt for the owner.

The indigenous population had been reduced significantly from 600,000 to 500 from harsh treatment and European diseases
Sugar was the most important crop and there were at least 450k Haitian enslaved Africans working on the colonies 800 plantations producing more sugar than all of the islands in the British Caribbean combined
The slaves made up 2/3 of the population and were working on sugar plantations for wealthy people who weren’t even on the island they were working on.
Because of the slaves dying so frequently and quickly the plantation owners frequently bought more enslaved people from Africa to replace those who had died.

The French Revolution had the main idea that all people should be treated equally under the law, should have natural rights, freedom of speech and religion, and fair taxes. But people who were enslaved still didn’t have those fair rights and were still being mistreated.
Had the Declaration of Man and Citizen which inspired the slaves to start the revolution as the document stated that everyone should be treated equally however the slaves were still being heavily mistreated and so this document inspired many of the slaves to continue on through the rebellion to earn their rights back

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement in the 1700s that focused on reason, logic, and science rather than just believing in blind faith.
Rationalism is the belief that people can gain knowledge rather than relying on scripture or church authorities. Empiricism teaches that knowledge comes from experience and observing the world around us. Progressivism is the idea that humans while using reason and observation can continue to improve and make progress over time. Cosmopolitanism reflects the belief that Enlightenment thinkers saw themselves as open-minded citizens of the world instead of narrow minded thinkers.
So, through ideological influences, the Haitian Revolution was inspired by the enlightenment because it made people think about their own freedom and rights instead of just relying and being fully dependent on the ideas of God blindly. They started thinking independently and started creating their own ideas of human rights and such which led the rebellion to continue successfully with the slaves ideas of natural rights and natural freedom pursuing while the rebellion took place so they can earn their freedom and rights back.

Self educated slave, born in Senegambia, transported to Jamaica. Sold to a French plantation owner in Haiti and later became a coach driver. Held secret meetings and Bwa Kayman (Voodoo ceremonies, the Haitian Revolution began on Aug 24, 1791.
- Bwa Kayman was the first site for all the slaves to meet up and in there planned on how the Haitian Revolution would work and such
Was very religious and was a Voodoo priest. Most likely influenced by African spiritual beliefs. His beliefs emphasized community, resistance, and the power of collective action against oppression.
Was able to control a large group of people because of him being influential, his teaching and religious title, as well as his large size which could’ve intimidated some people. Made an inspiring and daring prayer which inspired many slaves at the time.

leader of the Haitian independence movement during the French Revolution. He had great negotiation skills which allowed him to be such a great leader.
L’Ouverture was the son of an educated enslaved person. He was liked by the plantation manager and moved up his rank and was later freed.
Opposed voodoo and was a Roman Catholic contrasting to Dutty Boukman.
When the revolt was first happening, he was uninterested. Then, later on he joined the Black forces and helped kill many Europeans. He soon made his own army and trained his followers in the tactics of guerrilla warfare.
When France and Spain wen to war with each other, the Black commanders joined the Spaniards where L’Ouverture demonstrated extraordinary military ability and was noticed by many people. And because of his excellent skills it almost led to the downfall of the France because Toussaint wouldn’t negotiate with them because he just wanted them to permanently free the slaves. As soon as France freed the slaves, Toussaint switched sides and started fighting with