In 1942, Christopher Columbus took possession of a colony that he named Insula Hispania, which means the Spanish island. It also went by the name Saint-Domingue and is now known as the country of Haiti (Feb. 1st, Regina Wellner). The country is located on the west side of Hispaniola, sharing the same island as the Dominican republic in the Caribbean sea. The colony thrived economically in its early days because of the coffee and sugar industry, which were primarily run by slaves. It was even nicknamed “The pearl of the Antilles” because it was the richest French colony in the west and produced 60% of the world's coffee and 40% of the world's sugar (Feb 1st, Regina Wellner). It was the taxes and income from the sugar industry in Saint-Domingue …show more content…
This in turn hurt the sugar industry because it was mostly run by slaves, so production went to cuba instead. Haiti also didn't have successful relations with other nations for their trade industry, causing them to lose money they could have made with trading their coffee and sugar resources. The colony gained independence from France, but this only started their economic decline because they had to pay off reparations or “lost property” which resulted to a loss of 80% of their budget going back to France. Haiti also became isolated from western powers from this revolution, and the United states did not see them as their own country for a long time. France even refused to recognize Haiti until 1825, in exchange for 150 million gold francs, which was later reduced to 90 million. This wasn’t paid off until 1947 (Feb 8th, Regina …show more content…
The earthquake hit just 15 miles south of the capital Port-au-Prince and took more than 200,000 lives. Along with the lives lost, Haiti's economy suffered greatly as well as it is said to have created up to $8.5 billions of dollars in damage. 80% of schools were destroyed in this disaster as well as the airports, government buildings and all the roads (Amadeo). It's even more devastating to learn that this earthquake occurred right when Haiti got approved for a trade agreement with the United States that was helping to grow their economy (Amadeo). Haiti did receive about $13.5 billion in aid which helped to clean up the streets and build the country back to normal as much as possible
While the French revolution was a complete disaster in my opinion because two groups had different believes on political rights. It became so harsh that the kind died during the revolution that no one should be above the law the other group beliefs was when they finally won the revolution a lot of black slaves became free and considered as French citizens and that was great news to Toussaint and that a good think when u have a rebellion going on against slavery. Toussaint join the French to get help from the French since both had the same belief that all men should be created equal. Another great event that happened during the Haitian revolution is that Toussaint became governor of saint Dominque and that made the slaves holders very mad because a black male has risen to great power. Those key events are very important because now the Haitian and French revolution are now known as famous revolution of these great historic events and Haiti became the first free republic and humans right was given to all
In the 19th century, Enlightenment ideas were spreading all over Europe and Latin American which influents the white elites in Haiti to want a capitalist market and control of it own resources. Latin America’s elite class became anti-imperialist and favored exportation based on capitalism. Also, the white elites in Haiti saw that France was fully engaged in the Napoleonic Wars and seized the
It was the largest producer of sugar, and also the most valuable sugar producing colony, with much as eighty-eight thousand tons of sugar were being processed annually. In addition to the massive amounts of sugar being produced in Haiti, it was also a large producer of a variety of other commodities, one of which being coffee which it produced about thirty-seven thousand tons annually. Even further, the commodities that were being exported from Haiti totalled approximately one third of France’s external commerce. Moreover, a tremendous amount of the sugar that was being consumed in France came from Haiti. However, it was not exclusively France who was indulging on the commodities being produced and exported here, as the United States had participated as well. As a matter of fact, about all of the sugar and other commodities, such as molasses, that was being consumed in the United States had been imported from Haiti. The mass production of all the commodities did not happen by itself, but rather it happened due to the intensive labour of the slave population.
One way the French Revolution impacted the Haitian Revolution was by changing the mindsets of the Haitians in all social classes. The events occurring in France opened the Haitians’ eyes to a point where slaves weren’t the only ones in Haiti who wanted a change, but thanks to the French Revolution, everyone was angry. To begin with, the grand blancs wanted to terminate their trade agreement with France so they could sell to the highest bidder and keep the money they earned. Like the members of the Third Estate, they didn’t want to be controlled by the weak and tyrannical French monarchy. Speaking of the Third Estate, they might have been located in France, but the petit blancs still associated themselves with them, which is logical, as they were poor working classmen. These blancs were inspired by the citizens in France and their determination, as well as their desire for acquiring the rights they felt they deserved. Nevertheless, they turned to violent measures and began attacking the grand blancs. The petit blancs weren’t the only ones who wanted to be treated equally to the grand blancs; the gens de couleur had a yearning for this as well. Although they had
The gist overview of the Haitian Revolution is that it was a revolt that initiated by Haitian African Slaves. The French Revolution inspired the Haitian revolution. Due to this ignition, the African slaves began to revolt. Eventually, the Haitian slaves were to overcome the French and they gain their independence, leading to Haiti becoming an independent state in 1804. Both lecture and Wikipedia provided the information that was just stated. There were things that were stated in lecture that Wikipedia did not have, however that did not stray from the results of the revolution. Both sources tailored to gain an audience towards those who are interested in the Haitian Revolution. In fact the information that is presented is intended to educate those who interested in understanding the Haitian Revolution from the preconditions, contingencies, accidents, agencies, and
How did the French Revolution impact events on San Domingue (Haiti)? What did the revolution mean for the French? For Haitians? Why was this both contradictory and dangerous?
With the advancement in irrigation technology by French engineers and the increase in the popularity of sugar, the French colony of Saint Domingue became one of the worlds largest sugar producers. With sugar came problems for the many enslaved Africans that were forced to provide manual labor for the colony's sugar harvesting efforts. Oppression, violence, inequality (of a caste-like system), and many other hardships led to hard feelings between the Africans and their white masters, the French. (Talk about here that the slaves in america were facing the same type of thing that was happening in Haiti but with cotton rather than with sugar) With such exploitation of the African slaves, which constituted a majority of the
1492 - Christopher Columbus accidentally lands on present day Haiti and Dominican Republic and conquers the island for Spain,naming the island Hispaniola. 1697 - Spain gives the western part of Hispaniola to France, and the French name it Ayiti. 1801 - Toussaint Louverture (a former slave) becomes the self- proclaimed leader of Haiti and ends slavery 1804 - Haiti becomes independent from France and Jean-Jacques Dessalines declares himself emperor. 1806 - Dessalines is murdered and Haiti is split into a black north and mulatto south 1818-43 - Pierre Boyer unifies the north and south of Haiti, but excludes blacks from power. 1915 - US invades and "monitors" Haiti 1934 - US removes troops, but holds fiscal control for 13 more years 1956
The cause and effects of the Haitian Revolution have played, and continue to play, a major role in the history of the Caribbean. During the time of this rebellion, slavery was a large institution throughout the Caribbean. The success of the sugar and other plantations was based on the large slave labor forces. Without these forces, Saint Domingue, the island with the largest sugar production, and the rest of the Caribbean, would face the threat of losing a profitable industry.
Finally, Haiti got quite a bit of their motivation and reason for revolt from some of the Eighteenth century Enlightenment philosophers. These philosophers played a very big role in the development of many revolutions across the globe, including Haiti’s. “Throughout history, revolutions have started because of new ideas that change thinking and disrupt the status quo. The Haitian Revolution of 1789-1804 is no exception.”(Nicholson). The main philosopher that the Haitians took their ideas from is John Locke. Some of Locke’s ideas were previously unheard of, and started quite a debate when he published his books. These ideas gave people a new view on the way that things were seen all across the world, and gave people ideas they would have never had before. (“The Enlightenment”) “A government, he said, has an obligation to the people it governs. If a government fails its obligations or violates
The Haitian Revolution is based on the political purpose that France had when they fought to possess Saint-Domingue (now called Haiti). France, like other empires at the time, was trying to extend its wealth and power. Therefore, possessing Haiti, having a lot of gold, sugar, coffee, indigo and others were one way to be strong and powerful. Being driven by the profits that Haiti were emanating, African slaves were continuously brought to Haiti, first to replace the Aboriginals that had died previously, but also to increase their profits. This led to the slaves outnumbering the French colonizers. Later on, the free people of color were demanding more right to the French government and after their refusal, the slaves and the free people of color revolted which led to the Haitian revolution (Simpsons 1942, 487). The French colonizers were already struggling about the equality between themselves because there was a hierarchy present within the White community. Moreover, what created a reaction to help slaves to revolt was the “religious ceremony performed at Bois Caïman by the Maroon voodoo priest Dutty Boukman, which was attended by representative slaves from several plantations” (Laguerre 1989, 1). Boukman called the help of the spirits to revolt against the white colonists. The revolution of Haiti in 1804 was a social and political uprising in the French Colony of Saint-Domingue. Voodoo rapidly became Haiti’s way out of slavery, as it helped them reunite together and gain the
The Haitian revolution took place in Saint-Domingue, a French colony and one of the richest of all European colonies in the Caribbean, on the western part of the island of Hispaniola, a major center of sugar production with hundreds of prosperous plantations. The population of the colony comprised of three groups, the white colonials, the gens de couleur, and the slaves. Many slaves ran away and established maroon communities that were self-sustained. As more and more slaves ran away, more and more slaves were being imported from Africa and other Caribbean islands, which resulted in the high prices of slaves. Since the French aided the North American colonists in their war for independence, they sent several hundreds of gens de couleur to the colonies. Once they returned to Saint-Domingue, they wanted independence themselves from the French.
Before the French colony of Saint Domingo was known as the “pearl of the Antilles” at the start of the European colonization movement Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492 on the Island of Hispaniola. Haiti’s lush tropical landscapes and rich soil made Saint Domingo a target for colonialism.
It is no secret that the Caribbean fails to get the credit it rightfully deserves. One is taught to embrace the history of the United States and Europe. However, when told to recite the names of Caribbean legends, the room becomes silent. It is rare that one is taught the impact that the Caribbean has made all over the world. This is a shame because one of the most important events transpired in the Caribbean. In a small colony by the name Saint Domingue, which is currently known as Haiti, a slave rebellion that resulted in many causalities shook the world. This rebellion is called the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian Revolution is one of the largest slave revolts that have ever occurred. Finally fed up with oppression, severed rights under
The political factors for the Haitian and American revolution were similar. The Haitian gen de couleur libres lacked the ability to participate in government, like the colonist of the thirteen colonies who had no representation in British Parliament which made all the decisions concerning the colonists. The difference is that the gen de couleur libres petitioned France for their right to vote and received it in 1791, while the British colonists’ petitions for representations in Parliament were denied. The gen de couleur libres receiving their right to vote it prompted backlash amongst those of pure European descent in Haiti who began to intimidate and murder