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1492
Enslaving the Natives
After 1492, when Christopher Columbus sighted and island he called La Isla Espanola. The Spanish started to enslave the native Taino and Ciboney and force them to mine for gold. The European diseases and brutal working conditions killed the natives, and by the end of the 1500's the natives nearly died off. -
The French Settlement
The French began to establish permanent settlements and landowners in Western Hispaniola brought African slaves. By 1789, the estimated population of St. Domingue was 556,000 and included 500,000 African slaves, 32,000 European colonists, and 24,000 affranchis. -
Destroyed plantations
During August of 1791, the slaves destroyed over 1,000 plantations and killed of 1,000 white colonists in just 10 days. This attack was led by Toussaint L'Ouverture. Within a month free blacks and mulattoes joined the slaves. -
Beginning of the Haitian Revolution
On August 21, 1791 the Haitian Revolution began. It included the Haitian slaves and the First French Republic, and later in 1792 -
Newcomers to the Revolution
The Haitian Revolution became more difficult in 1792. This is because Saint Domingue was the wealthiest colony of France before the Haitian Revolution. Being a long-time enemy of France, Great Britain saw a chance to take over Saint Domingue. At the same time for the same reasons, Spain became involved in the Haitian revolution. -
Freeing the Slaves
In 1793, slavery in St. Domingue was officially ended. All salves were free in what is now Haiti. -
The Battle of Revine-a-Couleuvres
The Battle of Revine-a-Couleuvres was fought on February 23, 1802. The battle is also known as the Battle of Snake Gully. The result was a French victory. The French had 200 casualties, and they claim that the Haitians had 800 casualties. -
The Battle of Crete-a-Pierrot
The Battle of Crete-a-Pierrot was a 20 day battle. The fighting lasted from March 4, 1802 to March 24, 1802. The Haitians regained control of Fort Crete-a-Pierrot on March 11. The French attempted to take the fort back on March 12 and March 22, but failed. On March 24, the Haitians abandoned the fort due to many losses, and the French took control of the fort again. -
The Battle of Vertieres
On November 18, 1803 the last battle of the Haitian Revolution was fought. The battle took place at Cap-Haitien. It was called the battle of Vertieres. The French were left with 1,200 men dead and wounded, and the Haitians were left with 1,200 dead and 2,000 wounded. -
Haiti's Independence
On January 1, 1804 the Haitian Revolution ended. The Haitians won the Revolution and gained their independence. They succeeded at ending slavery in Haiti and French control of the colony. The colony became Hayti, later named Haiti
