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Events in Haiti Leading up to Abolition

  • La Societe de Amis des Noirs Founded

    The Society of Friends of the Blacks is founded in Paris, one of the first abolitionist organization in western history. Saint Domingue is the most productive sugar plantation on the planet, home to 38,000 enslaved people on 8,000 plantations
  • Tennis Court Oath

    French Estates General declare intent to not dispand and to write new constitution
  • Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

    Passed by Estates General
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    Vincent Oge Rebellion

    Mixed race delegation led by Vincent Oge demands rights in Saint-Domingue, and subsequently rebels. Oge is executed soon afterwards
  • May 15th Declaration

    Constituent Assembly of France gives full rights to free blacks and people of mixed race
  • Boukman Vodou Ceremony & Uprising

    An enslaved plantation worker named Boukman performs a semi-legendary nighttime vodou ceremony calling for rebellion. Sparks large scale violence
  • Sonthonax, Polverel, & Alihaud arrive

    French officials arrive on the Island with an army with the goal of restoring order. They pledge their support to the newly enfranchised free blacks. Enslaved people have still not been emancipated
  • Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette Executed

  • Sonthonax Emancipation order

    Commissioner Sonthonax emancipates 15,000 enslaved people (essentially the entire northern section of the island) for their aid in defeating rebelling white planters
  • Slavery Effectively Abolished on the Island

    No official political support has been given, but Sonthonax has proclaimed his intention to free all enslaved people, and almost all white planters have been deported
  • Toussaint Consolidates North

    With Spanish backing, Toussaint Louverture consolidates effective control of the northern half of the island.
  • Slavery Abolished

    The French National Assembly officially abolishes slavery and enfranchises all people living within the empire as citizens, regardless of race