The Haitian revolution and the American Revolution were both revolutions that occurred during the 18th and 17th centuries, mainly to obtain freedom from the countries that they were ruled under. Haiti, under the rule of France, was the richest colony in the world with thousands of enslaved Africans working for sugar and coffee plantations. America, under the rule of Britain had the British riot against the colonist because they were being forced to go in debt. However, these two revolutions had some significant differences. One being the fact that Haiti went on to deal with the racial issue that America largely ignored. In America the Slaves fought for the English under the promise of freedom if they fought for the British Empire. America …show more content…
chose to largely ignore the race issue whereas Haiti had to deal with it. The British went into debt so they could acquire land for America – they created the stamp act in which it was required to stamp documents and newspapers in order to collect the stamp tax. The colonist weren’t so keen on this because they had no direct representation in the parliament that had levied the tax. The British eventually stepped down and reeled the stamp act. At the end, this only emboldened the colonist when the British tried to put new taxes on the Americans in the form of the Townshend act. These taxes led to further protests and boycotts and most importantly more organization among the colonist leading to an escalated protest. In 1770 the Boston massacre occurred, followed by the Boston tea party in 1773, which lead to further British crackdowns and the mobilization of colonial militias.
The English crown benefited tremendously from the import of consumer goods to the American colonies and one of the most effective ways American colonist could protest taxation without representation was by boycotting British products. In order to enforce these boycotts the protesters created committees of correspondence which spread information about who was and was not observing the boycotts. These committees also could coerce non-compliers into compliance which is the equivalent to create and enforce policies in the same fashion as a government does. The Maryland committee of correspondence, in fact, was instrumental in setting up the first continental congress which convened to coordinate a response to the fighting that started in …show more content…
1775. A lot of slaves began to support the British especially after Britain promised that any slave who fought alongside them would be freed. The colonist threw off the rule of an imperial monarchy and replaced it with a government that didn’t have a king. After the revolution, Americans came to view themselves as equal to each other. The unrest in what became Haiti started in 1789 when some slaves heard the rumor that the king of France had freed them.
The word of the changes in France had reached the people of Haiti where the declarations of the rights of man and citizens gave hope both to free people of color and slaves. At the same time, some Petit Blancs argued that there was inadequate discrimination against blacks. They identified with the third state in France and they called for interest rates to be lowered so they could more easily pay their debts and they began lobbying for colonial independence by 1791. These radical petit Blancs seized the city of Port au Prince forcing the French government to send troops into Saint Domingue. Meanwhile, urges toward liberty, fraternity, and equality were only growing in France and it didn’t seem very equitable to grant citizenship based solely on race. In May of 1791 the National Assembly gave full French citizenship to all free men of color. In august of 1791 a massive slave revolt broke out, among the leaders of this revolt was Toussaint Bbreda, a former slave of full African descent who later took the name Toussaint l’ouverture. L’Ouverture heeled mold the slaves into a disciplined army that could withstand attacks from the French troops. The Spanish consistently supported slave revolts in Saint Domingue hopping to weaken the French, and by 1793 they were offered even more support. L’Ouverture became an officer in the Spanish military because the
emancipation of the slaves was very important to him. In October of 1793 the French invaded Saint Domingue and were not capable of fighting against the Spanish, British, and the slaves so they decided to issue decrees freeing the slaves. On February 4, 1794 the national convention in Paris ratified those decrees and by may L’Ouverture switched allegiances to the French and turned the tide of the war. Thus, one of the most successful slave revolts in human history won freedom and citizenship for every slave in the French Caribbean. However, the emancipation did not end everything because the French were still at war with the Spanish and the English in Ssaint Domingue. Between 1794 and 1802, L’Ouverture successfully steered the colony towards independence. Although slavery was abolished, this did not end the plantation system because both L’Ouverture and his compatriot Andre Rigaud believed that sugar was vital to the economic health of the island. Soon, L’Ouverture and Rigaud came into conflict over Raigaud’s refusal to give up control over one of the southern states on the island and there was a civil war which L’Ouverture, with the help of his able lieutenant Jacques Dessalines, was able to win after 13 months of fighting and L’Ouverture then passed a new constitution On January 1, 1804 Dessalines who had defeated the French, declared the island of Saint Ddomingue independent and re-named it Haiti.
François Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture was an educated former slave and soldier of the king that would eventually lead the revolution against French rule in Saint-Domingue. The prime objective of Toussaint’s letter to the Directory of France was to end colonial tyranny and declared an end to slavery in Saint-Domingue (Haiti) by utilizing the language of freedom and equality in reminisce of the French revolution. Toussaint fiercely pursued the abolition of slavery, as his letter warned the Directory of France against the reinstatement of slavery. Although Toussaint was captured in 1802 and executed in 1803 by the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, his movement lived on. The French ultimately failed to recapture the island of Saint-Domingue, declaring the independent state of Haiti in 1804.
In the 1800s, there were many American territories that were apart of the colonies of European powers that were trying to become independent from Europe. Both Haiti in the year 1804, and South America in the year 1815, wrote letters about their independence. The Haitian Declaration of Independence and the Jamaican Letter have similarities in why they are writing the letters, and differences like who they are writing too. While both are similar, lets start by looking at The Haitian Declaration of Independence.
When the colonies were being formed, many colonists came from England to escape the restrictions placed upon them by the crown. Britain had laws for regulating trade and collecting taxes, but they were generally not enforced. The colonists had gotten used to being able to govern themselves. However, Britain sooned changed it’s colonial policy because of the piling debt due to four wars the British got into with the French and the Spanish. The most notable of these, the French and Indian War (or the Seven Years’ War), had immediate effects on the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain, leading to the concept of no taxation without representation becoming the motivating force for the American revolutionary movement and a great symbol for democracy amongst the colonies, as Britain tried to tighten their hold on the colonies through various acts and measures.
Through many means of protest such as the Boston Tea Party, boycotting British goods and products, and the formation of many protest groups such as the Sons and Daughters of Liberty that made it possible for the colonists to fight off the English influence. The Boston Tea Party in Boston was a major factor when it came to the independence of America because it showed that the colonists could work together and formulate a plan such as disguising themselves as Mohawk Indians to intimidate the enemy and successfully dispose of hundreds of barrels of tea into the Boston Harbor. Now with cause comes effect, the cause was that the English had lost a lot of money and profit once the tea was disposed of, but the major reaction of the English was to retaliate. England had sent an increase in troops to the colonies to oversee what was happening with the formulation of protests and the British government had also passed the Intolerable Act, which closed down the harbor to repair any damage caused by the actions of the Boston Tea Party, and made it so that more restrictions were put on the colonists for their actions. As a result of this act being put into place, the colonists had also retaliated by forming the First Continental Congress which was a meeting of the delegates of the thirteen colonies except Georgia because Georgia was a state that homed debtors and criminals. As stated in Document E, “A Declaration by the Representative of the United Colonies of North America, now met in Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms.” This has showed that the colonists would do anything and everything within their power to rid the colonies of the oppressive and selfies rule of the British empire forever even if it meant violence and death would be a result of their
The Haitian Revolution was time of hectic blood shed war. Toussaint Louverture was the leader of the Haitians out of slavery and free from the Spanish. The colony of St. Domingue was a slave island, where slaves would work to make goods to be sent to Spain in return for nothing. The people were treated harsh and done wrong but by the efforts of Louverture they will become free. Louverture was the leader of the revolution but failed to complete his duties because of capture Jean- Jacques Dessalines took over in 1802. He was captured before the war before the end of the war. The Revolution lasted from 1789-1803 until everything was settled and St. Domingue was a free land called Haiti.
Haiti began as the French colony of Saint-Domingue. The island was filled with plantations and slaves working on them. Almost a decade and a half after its settlement, this colony paved the way for many changes throughout the French empire and many other slave nations. Through its difficult struggle, we examine whether the slave revolt of Saint-Domingue that began in the late 16th century was justifiable and whether its result in creating the free nation of Haiti was a success. The slave insurrection began in August 1791 in Saint-Domingue.
However, one of the greatest differences in their outcomes was that France emerged as a new, firm government as Haiti staggered with its new independence. In September 1791, France achieved the movement of freeing and outlawing slavery. In turn, Haitian slaves were inspired to do the same by revolting against French plantation owners. This transformative movement of 100,000 slaves was led by Toussaint L’Ouverture.
The American Revolution and French Revolution were two long lasting uprisings that had great value to those battling for their rights and want they wanted to change. Yet there are a few distinctions details set them apart in a small way. The Americans wanted a change in their government, but the French wanted a huge change in everything including their government, religion, social structure (whereas American’s social system stayed the same) and economy. Other than the few differences they had, they two Revolutions were much alike, basically twin revolutions.
The French Revolutions ideology of freedom and equality lead to the Haitian revolution in Saint Domingue. Saint Domingue was one of the richest colonies in the entire world during this time. It made a big profit for France, but the rules were also unfair. They favored only to the slave owners and whites. This is why many slaves wanted to revolt. Before the revolution, Saint Domingue was a major producer of coffee and sugar.
The American and the French revolutions had many similarities and differences. One similarity being is that they both wanted to escape the rule of their King. Second, they both started by an uprising of people against unfair taxation by the monarchy. The French peasants were not represented by the Parliament. It was mainly composed of middle and upper class people. Now, the American colonists were not represented in England because of their lack of presence. Both wanted to set up a Republic, which provided liberty and justice to all classes of citizens. Just like France, the American colonists were composed up mainly middle and lower class citizens. The American Revolution started out by not wanting bloodshed and violence. France started out with violence and bloodshed. (American Revolution)
On January 1, 1804, the country of Haiti formally declared independence from the French colonial powers. This newfound state of freedom was born as a result of the Haitian revolution (1791–1804), a movement that was primarily lead by the former slave and prominent leader, Toussaint L’Overture. Due to the successful nature of this slave revolt, the nation of Haiti became a huge inspiration for surrounding colonies – becoming the second former European colony in the New World that was able to achieve independence. Despite the hard-won efforts of the oppressed, political stability within the country quickly unravelled as the national identity formed during the revolution deteriorated under rising conflict between mulattoes and blacks.
Although, after the revolution, both France and Haiti’s economy was negatively impacted, as a result of the violent rebellions that occurred in order to acquire independence. France was required to overthrow their own government, which was an internal force, however Haiti was required to overthrow an external force, which was France. Nevertheless, both applied violence in their movements and were influenced by significant leaders who enabled the success of the revolution, as they desired political equality within society. Plus, each possessed the same government after the revolutions took place. Thus, even though the French Revolution and Haitian Revolution occurred chronologically in this era of changing society, they both possess distinct aspects, as well as certain similarities.
...] and the Haitians shall hence foward be known only by the generic application of Blacks” (Dessalines, Haiti Const.). However, the American and Latin American Revolution were conservative movements. While they did overthrow the government by force and implement a new system, they were less revolutionary because there was less bloodshed. This can be seen as the American Revolution gained independence from Britain and set up a new system set forth by the Enlightenment ideals and English liberties in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Likewise, the Latin American Revolution created less of a change in the political and social structures of Latin America such as not becoming democratic. Each revolution differed greatly in terms of effects, violence, being a conservative or radical movement, and the revolution being categorized as political, social, or both.
Haiti, previously known as Saint-Domingue, was a slave island and one of the wealthiest of France’s colonies. Up until this point in time, slavery was still common and, as mentioned above, continued throughout the world even after such freedom declarations such as, the Declaration of Independence in the newly formed United States, and the Declaration of Rights of Man in the Republic of France. The Haitian Revolution was brought on by the want for liberation of slaves, and was largely inspired by the French Revolution and the Declaration of Rights of Man. “Even though the early leaders of the French Revolution had no intention of exporting the upheaval, it spread to the colonies, especially to Saint-Domingue” (Ott 1973). This revolution proved to be a major event as it was the most successful slave revolution in history. The slavery population in Haiti, vastly outnumbered the white colonists in Haiti, and therefore, when the slave population banded together, led to a full-scaled rebellion. Revolts would continue to occur until finally in 1793, the slaves got their freedom, with slavery officially being abolished in all French territories in 1794. From this point until 1802, small rebellions continued to occur as not much changed in the daily lives of slaves, despite technically having their freedom. After the French Revolution and with Napoleon taking power in 1799; Napoleon reinstated slavery in all French colonies, including Haiti. Napoleon also sent an army to Haiti to enforce these new slavery laws and Haiti returned to a slave economy in 1802 (Doyle 1943). The Haitian Revolutionaries finally get their win after defeating the French soldiers in the Battle of Vertieres in 1803; the final part of the revolution. The revolution officially ended in 1804, with Haiti gaining its independence from France and permanently abolishing slavery
What makes the Haitian Revolution more radical than the two before it is the fact that it was led by slaves. Throughout the previous revolutions, the main goal was for white men, essentially, to be free from oppressive government rule. There were few thoughts regarding the rights of slaves, even though they were men. The fact that this group of people were able to remove the colonial authority and establish their own country during this period of time was particularly radical and unheard of.