-
Toussaint Louverture takes Control of all the Rebels
In 1791, a slave rebel erupted on the French colony, and Toussaint Louverture, a former slave, took control of all the rebels. Toussaint was gifted with natural military genius, he organized an effective freedom fighting war against the island´s colonial population. Toussaint Louverture found generals who were avle in two other former slaves, Dessalines and Henri Christophe. -
Those that aren´t Engaged on the War get Left Behind
January 9, 1792, the rebel army leave behind anyone who wasn´t engaged in the war. This consists of a few hundred women, children, elderly and those who were too weak to fight, whom they expect will be treated gently by the French. Instead, the troops killed them, some were decapitated, some slashed to shreds, while the women fought hard to protect their children. Around 3,000 other captured slaves are forced to return to their masters, most of them are killed to give an example. -
First Anniversary of the French Republic
August 21, 1793, was the first anniversary of the French Republic. Civil commissioner Polverel, combined the concepts of the French Revolution with those of generals emancipation, gives slaves that were on his plantation their freedom. He then invited planters in the West to follow his example. -
France Almost Loses Control Over Entire Colony
It was springtime in the year of 1794, France almost lost control of the entire colony, besides Le Cap and Port-de-Paix. The British and Spanish controlled most of North, Mole St. Nicolas in the West, and Jeremie and Grand-Anse in the South. Many mulattoes and blacks are assisting the foreign forces with the goal -
Power Struggles Develop
In the month of October, 1796, power struggles developed in the face of Toussaint´s growing power. To make his position more official and his ties with others stronger, Sonthonax makes Toussaint Commander in Chief of the army. Laveaux sails to France as second in command while Sonthonax willingly stays in Saint-Domingue to perform his duties as civil commissioner. -
France Sends Another Official Agent
April 1798, upon the return of Sonthonax, France sent another official agent to Saint-Dominigue. Commissioner Hédouville arrived in Le Cap. His plan is to enforce laws of the French legislative body, to “entrench respect for French national authority,” to prevent blacks from taking advantage of their freedom. Also, to strictly enforce French law against the immigrants who first came to the colony in 1771. -
Louverture fails to bribe the Spanish
Louverture sent a military expedition into Spanish Santo Domingo to bring the territory under his rules. A mass uprising of armed black workers broke out in the North support of Louverture, at the same time he sent a military expedition. His bribes with the Spanish extremely failed but, he successfully gains the masses´ popular support. -
Toussaint Agrees to Stop all Gun Fire
In the month of January, 1802, and occupation force ordered by Napoleon landed on Saint-Domingue. After several months of constant fighting, Toussaint agreed to stop all gun fire. He retired to his colony but in 1803 was arrested and taken to one of the dungeon in the French Alps, where he was tortured and died in April. -
Napoleon Announces his Mission to Reintroduce Slavery in Haiti
Soon after Toussaint Louverture´s arrest, Napoleon announced his plans to reintroduce slavery on Haiti, and Dessalines led a new revolt against French rule. The rebels scored a great victory against the French force there, with the aid of the British. On November 9, 1803, colonial authorities finally surrendered. -
Jean Jacques Dessalines Announces Nation´s Independence
January 1, 1804, Jean Jacques Dessalines announced the nation independent and called it Haiti. The first nation to reconize thier independence was France. Haiti was the first black republic in the world, and the second nation, after the U.S., to win thier independence from a Eurpean power.
