IndexChristopher ColumbusCode BlackSocial StructureThe Beginning of the RevolutionToussaint L'OuvertureEurope's ReactionTreaty of BasilKnife WarThe Overture controls all of Hispaniola/Constitution of 1801Napoleon Vs L'OuvertureIndependenceEmperor DessalinesConsequencesFrom 1791, the Haitian Revolution was a series of disagreements between colonists, Haitian slaves, and the French, British, and Spanish armies. After fighting for over a decade to gain independence from France, they finally won and became the first country to be founded by former slaves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Christopher Columbus In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the “Blue Ocean” and landed on the island of North Hispaniola and established the first European settlement. Columbus was a selfish and greedy man who enslaved the Taino and forced them to mine for gold until they became extinct. Then, in 1502, the first African slaves were brought to Hispaniola and by 1546 there were 12,000 slaves. France then created permanent settlements in 1670 consisting of plantations producing tobacco, sugar and coffee = slave labor. The left side of Hispaniola then became the richest colony in the Caribbean belonging to France called Saint-Domingue.Code NoirWhen King Louis XIV created the Code Noir in 1685, it was a set of codes that explained France's position on slavery in colonies. It consisted of the following: - slaves were the personal property of their masters, slaves could not gather for marriage ceremonies or dances, runaway slaves who were captured could have their ears cut off or be killed, and the Code gave white planters the right to shoot anyone they thought was a fugitive. Between 1700 and 1791, 700,000 slaves were brought to Saint-Domingue. Social structure There was a specific social structure in SD, there were four “classes”. The most superior with complete freedom were the Grands Blancs who were the plantation owners, the second class was known as the Affranchis who were the free people of color. Free people of color were mixed-race children usually with white fathers and were known as mulattoes. Even though the mulattoes were of mixed race, it was not uncommon for the Franks to have their own plantations and slaves. Then there were the Petits Blancs who were the white working class: teachers, artisans, workers etc. Finally, the people who made up the majority of the population; slaves. In 1791 there were 32,000 whites, 28,000 Freedmen and 500,000 slaves. The Beginning of the RevolutionWhen the French Revolution broke out, it had a huge impact on the slaves in Saint-Domingue. In 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen did not give the colonies the same rights as it gave the French. However, many slaves believed they had been freed, but their white masters refused to give them the freedom they thought they had. Then it happened. August 1791 was the beginning of months of planning with Boukman Dutty: the primary organizer of the rebellion. A month later, rebels killed hundreds of whites and burned more than 1,000 plantations. Toussaint L'Ouverture Boukman Dutty wasn't the only person associated with the rebellion, so was Toussaint L'Ouverture. Overture was a former slave who was taught to read and write by his progressive master who later freed him in the 1770s. Similar to Napoleon, he was well known for his military and strategic intelligence which led his army to grow to several thousand troops under the Spanish. He essentially freed SD's slaves and negotiated for the French colony of Hispaniola. The reactionof Europe Because the slaves and rebels had enough power, the white planters allied themselves with the English because they believed this was the only way to keep slavery in SD. However, such beliefs were not fulfilled because the National Convention abolished slavery in 1794 to overcome the rebels. This plan worked as it led to L'Ouverture abandoning the Spanish and joining the French. Treaty of Basil The Spanish knew they had no chance of defeating the French, so they signed the Treaty of Basel in 1795 which removed troops from the island and gave Santo Domingo to France. This specific event marked the about-face of L'Ouverture as a turning point in the Haitian Revolution. This is because Louverture's support allowed France to gain control over the colony as its power and influence continued to grow. In March 1796, Louverture was appointed lieutenant governor of Saint-Domingue. The War of the Knives Slavery still existed in British settlements and plantations were still operating, so in 1797 Affranchis leader Andre Rigaud and Louverture drove Britain out of Saint-Domingue. Rigaud and Louverture made a good team but not for long, selfishness soon set in when the two had to determine who was in control of the colony. In 1799, war broke out between the two, known as the War of the Knives. Louverture's black forces were against Rigaud's Franks and worried them that if the Franks won, slavery and inequality would return again. Louverture was so powerful that he commanded the north and west of Saint-Domingue, which allowed him to blockade Rigaud's forces for five months, so food and supplies could not reach them. Louverture knew that it was already a victory for him so, in July 1800, he sent his general Jean-Jacques Dessalines to defeat Rigaud's army. L'Ouverture controls all of Hispaniola/constitution of 1801 In January 1800 Louverture gained control of all of Hispaniola Hispaniola as governor of Santo Domingo relinquished control of the territory. His first act was to abolish slavery on the island and he later called an assembly to draft a constitution known as the Constitution of 1801. Louverture first proclaimed himself governor general for life and then created five laws for all to follow. According to his constitution he; abolished slavery and declared all citizens had equal rights, outlawed Voodoo in favor of Catholicism (he was Catholic), all SD people were French citizens, land was to be concentrated in large estates, citizens were to work a mandatory number of hours on the plantations to keep the economy going and they received daily wages. Although the people of Hispaniola wanted Louverture to have full control, its constitution made them question whether Louverture was the best candidate for the job. Most people could not own land due to the large concentration, and Dessalines and many other officers encouraged soldiers to use violence if workers did not cooperate. These weren't the only things that pissed off the slaves; Louverture welcomed the exiled white planters back to the island and assumed absolute power as governor general for life. Many former slaves believed that life was almost the same as when they were slaves just with a different name. Napoleon vs. L'OuvertureIn France, Napoleon was the only one in power and considered the Constitution of 1801 an aggressive move for independence, so in October 1801 he sent 20,000 soldiers together with General Leclerc to restore order and stability and to reconquer Saint Domingue. When his troops arrived in..