HAITIAN REVOLUTION

• Who made up the social classes in Saint Domingue, and why was this social pyramid unstable?

  • Order was Grand blancs, Petits blancs, free people of color, enslaved people
  • The social pyramid was unstable because the free poc and enslaved did not have that much privelege nor rights like the white plantation owners did.
• White Planters

   This class consisted of wealthy European colonists who owned large plantations and wielded significant economic and political power
• Free People of Color

  This group included individuals of mixed-race descent, often born to white fathers and enslaved African mothers. While they were technically free, they faced legal and social discrimination and were often denied the same rights and privileges as white colonists
• Enslaved Africans

  The majority of the population in Saint Domingue consisted of enslaved Africans who were brutally exploited for labor on the plantations. They had no legal rights and were subjected to harsh living and working conditions
• Social pyramid in Saint Domingue

  • Highly unstable due to several factors
• Factors contributing to instability

  • Racial Tensions
  • Inequality and Exploitation
  • Revolutionary Ideas
  • External Pressures
• Racial Tensions

  The rigid racial hierarchy, with white planters at the top and enslaved Africans at the bottom, created deep-seated tensions and resentment among different racial groups
• Inequality and Exploitation

  The extreme economic inequality and exploitation of enslaved Africans fueled social unrest and resistance against the oppressive plantation system
• Revolutionary Ideas

  The spread of revolutionary ideas from Europe and the Americas, including notions of liberty, equality, and fraternity, inspired enslaved Africans and free people of color to challenge the existing social order and demand their rights
• External Pressures

  Factors such as the French Revolution and international conflicts also contributed to the instability in Saint Domingue, as they created opportunities for dissent and rebellion against colonial authority
• What was life like for an enslaved person in Saint Domingue?

  • it was incredibly harsh because they had severe labor, punishments, and conditions
  • life expectancy was also short
• What was the goal of the revolutionaries in the revolution's early days?

  • to achieve freedom and equality 
• Who was Toussaint Louverture, and why did he fight first with the Spanish and then with the French?

  • he was a formally enslaved person who emerged as one of the haiti revolution leaders
  • he initially fought with the Spanish against the French during the Haitian Revolution
  • he later aligned with the French due to the promise of emancipation and strategic advantages
• How did enslaved people learn about revolutionary ideas?

  • free poc who were traded back and forth read about it
  • plantation ppl sometimes brought newspaper to read
  • enslaved ppl could read between the lines bc of voodoo and spirituality
• Economic Difficulties

  • Haiti faced economic challenges following independence, including reparations to France for lost property (formerly enslaved people) and infrastructure damage
  • This burden contributed to Haiti's economic instability and debt accumulation
• Political Instability

  • Haiti experienced frequent political upheavals, including coups, dictatorships, and weak governance
  • This hindered stability and development efforts
• Foreign Intervention

  • Haiti faced foreign intervention, including military occupations by countries such as France, the United States, and the Dominican Republic
  • This disrupted governance and sovereignty
• Social Unrest

  • Social unrest, including protests, riots, and civil unrest, has been prevalent in Haiti
  • Due to economic inequality, social injustice, and dissatisfaction with governance
• Natural Disasters

  • Haiti has been prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods
  • These have caused significant loss of life and infrastructure damage
  • Further exacerbating the country's challenges
• Humanitarian Crises

  • Haiti has faced humanitarian crises, including outbreaks of diseases such as cholera
  • Displacement of populations due to natural disasters and political conflicts
  • Leading to increased vulnerability and suffering
• • napolean reinstated slavery in the french empire and soon Toussaint Louverture was arrested
  • this ignited a spark among enslaved ppl in haiti and they fought back
  • this led them to win against france and declared their independence
• There are argument that Haiti's struggle continued long after the revolution and independence. What evidence is provided to support this point?

  france still did not recognize haiti as independent until agreements were made and haiti had to pay loans to earn their independence