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What started it?
In 1789, there was harshness to the slaves in Saint-Dominique. Even with that cruelty and harshness, there were slave rebellions. These rebellions were of the many that had caused the Haitian Revolution. -
When did it happen and why?
The Haitian Revolution was started in 1791 when slaves initiated the rebellion. The outcome of this was the ending of slavery and French control of the colony. This revolution was said as the most successful and large slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. -
The Uprising
An uprising began in the northern plain, August 1791. Slaves planned to burn plantations, starting the rebellion. By 1792, they owned a third of the island. -
An arrival
The British arrived in 1793 to conquer the country. Not just the British, but also France. -
Defeats by L'Ouverture
In 1798, the British and French retreated. But only when they were hit by a series of defeats from L’Ouverture. The slaves managed to fight for themselves and win this time. -
The Expanding
And by 1801, L’Ouverture had expanded the revolution beyond Haiti. He conquered the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo (which is now present-day Dominican Republic). L’Ouverture eliminated slavery in the Spanish colony and declared himself the lifelong Governor-General over the entire island of Hispaniola. -
L'Ouverture
Napoleon Bonaparte dispatched General Charles Leclerc and 43,000 French troops to capture L’Ouverture. Not only that, but also to restore slavery. L’Ouverture later died in prison in 1803 after he was taken and sent to France. -
Jean-Jacques Dessalines
One of L’Ouverture’s generals, Jean-Jacques Dessalines led the revolutionaries at the Battle of Vertieres. This happened on November 18, 1803 where the French forces were defeated. Not to mention, Dessalines was a former slave himself. -
The End
In the same year, France became the first nation to recognize its independence. Haiti also became the first black republic in the world. Also the second nation in the western hemisphere, after the United States, to claim its independence from Europe. -
No more slavery!
All the hard work came through. On January 1, 1804, Dessalines dubbed the nation independent and renamed it Haiti. There was no more slavery!
