5.2 Haitian Revolution
Haitian Revolution
richest colony in the world at the time, with 8,000 plantations. they produce 40% of worlds sugar and 50% of the world’s coffee
only 70,000 out of the 570,000 people are not enslaved
40,000 of the people were white and divided between
. Grands blancs = wealthy plantation owners, merchants, and lawyers
. Petits blancs = poor whites
30,000 others are free people of color
Social Groups
Grand blancs = greater independence for the colony from france and less trade restrictions
Petits blancs = equality of citizenship and economic opportunities
Free people of color = equal rights and treatment for all free people
Slaves = personal freedom
The Haitian Revolution
the first revolt was in 1791 triggered by rumors that the french king had declared an end to slavery
slaves burned around 1,000 plantations and killed white and mixed-race people
power gravitated towards the slaves
led by toussaint louverture (a former slave)
They had the only complete successful slave revolt in world history, slaves became equal, free and independent citizens
They also had a formal declaration of independence on january 1st 1804
Effects:
Plantations were destroyed
most whites fled or were killed
private and state lands redistributed among former slaves and free black people
haiti became a nation of small-scale farmers producing for their own needs