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background
The Saint Domingue colony was France's richest overseas possession. Occupying Saint Domingue, it generated an incredible amount of wealth for French merchants and sugar plants, who made up a third of the country's trade. Conditions were harsh and horrible as many people died from maltreatment and diseases. Unfortunately, instead of increasing the quality of the conditions, salves were still being transported to work. -
more 1789 background
Although many slaves were being badly treated by their white counterparts, a lot of them actually were inspired by the revolution and dreamed of having their own independence as well. The revolution itself was to build equality which was harder for them to do. It was practically impossible to abolish slavery even though it would help in slowing down the massive spread of it. -
1791
Whilst both groups were arguing but also not abolishing slavery, it gave an opening to the Slavesto to create an organised uprising led by an Avoudun priest called Boukman. As the leader, his position was a field manager and coach driver for slaves and told them what to do at his signal. They followed him and they joined tens of thousands of slaves who also rose up -
1789 more x2
Slaves at that time had barely any idea of what was going on in France. They had no contact between the two lands. The main central conflict was between the other ranks aka the petit blancs and gens de couleur. gens de couleur were free women and men of colour, likely being mixed race and having enough status to also own their own plantations and slaves. They also were people who supplied food for themselves and were literate. by 1791 a civil war broke out between the blancs and gen de coleur