In April 2021, with Duncan's work on the book completed, he and his family returned to the United States. They were killed by guillotine, "breaking at the wheel", mobs and other death machines: death toll estimates range from 18,000 to 40,000. [19], The larger groups of runaway slaves who lived in the hillside woods away from white control often conducted violent raids on the island's sugar and coffee plantations. The first effective maroon leader to emerge was the charismatic Haitian Vodou priest Franois Mackandal, who inspired his people by drawing on African traditions and religions. "Reign of Terror: 17931794." Associate Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Chicago, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Historical Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services, https://15minutehistory.org/podcast-player/117/episode-11-the-haitian-revolution.mp3, Episode 6: Effects of the Atlantic Slave Trade on the Americas. [31] This was almost half the total slave population in the Caribbean, estimated at one million that year. However, all was not simple in the press. During his reign, nearly 10% of able-bodied men were in active service resulting in a military force of up to 37,000 men. [107], The rebels finally managed to decisively defeat the French troops at the Battle of Vertires on 18 November 1803, leading the first-ever group of slaves to successfully create an independent state through a slave revolt. Season 1 - The Work Revolution. The French constitutions of 1793 and 1795 both included the abolition of slavery. A self-described "complete history geek",[2] his love for history grew from an interest in ancient civilizations as a child, with a particular affinity for Roman history. [145] The Greeks later received support from President Boyer during their fight against the Ottomans. A Senator or the Haitian People? [114] Rochambeau's atrocities helped rally many former French loyalists to the rebel cause. 07 December 2015 at 11:56 AM. Now: The Russian Revolution Next: ??? France continued the slavery system in French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. [8][9][10] The revolution represented the largest slave uprising since Spartacus' unsuccessful revolt against the Roman Republic nearly 1,900 years earlier,[11] and challenged long-held European beliefs about alleged black inferiority and about slaves' ability to achieve and maintain their own freedom. In nationalistic terms, the abolition of slavery also served as a moral triumph of France over England, as seen in the latter half of the above quote. [104] Captain Marcus Rainsford, a British Army officer who visited Saint-Domingue observed the training of the Haitian Army, writing: "At a whistle, a whole brigade ran three or four hundred yards, and then, separating, threw themselves flat on the ground, changing to their backs and sides, and all the time keeping up a strong fire until recalledThis movement is executed with such facility and precision as totally to prevent cavalry from charging them in bushy and hilly country". [176] Yet Sonthonax was one of the few contenders who truly pushed for the independence of the African slaves and became a major factor in Toussaint's decision of declaring independence from France. The French had built a deep defensive ditch with palisades and Forbes had neglected to bring along heavy artillery. Before his arrival, there were only a few killings, despite his orders. Unlike his previous podcast, Revolutions is not the history of one society or polity but rather a thematic series focusing on particular revolutions in the history of the modern world. White women were "often raped or pushed into forced marriages under threat of death". He died months later in prison at Fort-de-Joux in the Jura Mountains. I find this to be a really interesting perspective given the number of slaves that were rebelling at this point, that Napoleon thought that taking out one man would end the revolution. [41] While Og was not fighting against slavery, his treatment was cited by later slave rebels as one of the factors in their decision to rise up in August 1791 and resist treaties with the colonists. The new governor of Jamaica, Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres, urged Maitland not to withdraw from Mole St Nicholas. All of the slaves worked the land, men and women alike. [101] Once that was completed, slavery would be ultimately restored. [90], Between 1793 and 1798, the expedition to Saint-Domingue had cost the British treasury four million pounds and 100,000 men either dead or permanently disabled from the effects of yellow fever. The U.S. Most historians classify the people of the era into three groups: The first group were white colonists, or les blancs. In Dublin and Cork, soldiers from the 104th, 105th, 111th, and 112th regiments rioted when they learned that they were being sent to Saint-Domingue. Accessed 25 March 2015. Glasgow Women's Library. Duncan was born in Redmond, Washington, and attended Western Washington University, attaining a degree in political science with a minor in philosophy. After Haiti gained its independence, the Poles acquired Haitian citizenship for their loyalty and support in overthrowing the French colonialists, and were called "black" by the Haitian constitution. 07 December 2015 at 11:08 AM. Love this! The constitution of 1793 never went into effect, but that of 1795 did; it lasted until it was replaced by the consular and imperial constitutions under Napoleon Bonaparte. Show [REDACTED] History, Ep Centuries of Suffering: The Haitian Revolution Aftermath - Apr 27, 2023 In February 1797, General John Graves Simcoe arrived to replace Forbes with orders to pull back the British forces to Port-au-Prince. Louverture worked with a French general, tienne Laveaux, to ensure that all slaves would be freed. Du Bois said that the Haitian Revolution was an economic pressure without which the British parliament would not have accepted abolitionism as readily. Geggus points out that at least 3 of every 5 British troops sent there in 17911797 died of disease. Here is a link to the map if you don't like the embed: The July Revolution Map To select and de-select layers click that little white box in the upper-left. It involved black, biracial, French, Spanish, British, and Polish participantswith the ex-slave Toussaint Louverture emerging as Haiti's most prominent general. [124][125] The country, therefore, had to be rebuilt. What is the Significance of the Haitian Revolution? Tour dates and links: Sept. 6 Madison -- Mystery to Me Sept. 7 Chicago -- Seminary Co-Op Sept. 8 Portland -- Powell's Books Sept. 9 Seattle -- Elliott Bay Book Company Sept. 12 Boulder -- Boulder Book Store Sept. 13 Denver -- Tattered Cover (Aspen Grove) Sept. 14 Dallas -- Interrobang Books Sept. 15 Austin -- Bookpeople Sept. 16 Houston -- Brazos Books Sept. 19 New Orleans -- Garden District Book Shop Sept. 20 Atlanta -- Carter Center w/ A Capella Books Sept. 21 Chapel Hill -- Flyleaf Books Sept. 22 Raleigh -- Quail Ridge Books Sept. 24 Winston-Salem -- Bookmarks Book Festival, The word revolution means coming full circle, so it seems like the best way to begin the end. The series covered the English Civil War, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, Simon Bolivar and Gran Colombia, the July Revolution, the Revolutions of 1848, the Paris Commune, the Mexican Revolution, and finally the Russian Revolution, ending its run of narrative episodes in July 2022. [106] The Haitian psychological warfare was successful with many French soldiers asking why they were fighting to enslave the Haitians, who were only asserting the rights promised by the Revolution to make all men free. In 1820, the island nation was finally reunified when Christophe, ill and surrounded by new rebellions, killed himself. Main [12] Each season was dedicated to one revolution or revolutionary wave and discussed the revolution through a chronological narrative approach, as in his podcast The History of Rome, but the shorter time periods and longer episode length for each season allowed greater detail for individual events. The comedy podcast that takes history seriously is back with a new series. They wanted to get out of the exclusive trade agreement that they had with France and sell their sugar to the highest bidder. [Update: I also now realize you can't get the street view guy on this map but you should still go drop in on Place Joachim du Bellay to get an idea of what this all looked like. The conflict up to this point was between factions of whites, and between whites and free blacks. [74] Whyte took Port-au-Prince, but Sonthonax and the French forces were allowed to leave in exchange for not burning the sugar-loaded ships. [39] Rian Johnson was listening to the History of Rome podcast as he was writing the script for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. [63] Rigaud failed in attempt to retake Port-au-Prince, but on Christmas Day 1794, he stormed and retook Tiburon in a surprise attack. Many of them had used their social capital to acquire wealth, and some already owned land. Barred from using the whip, many instead turned to lianes, which were thick vines abundant throughout the island, to persuade the laborers to keep working. The gens de couleur were seeing their chance for citizenship and equality because they couldnt practice certain professions and had to be separate in public spaces, and they also couldnt marry whites. But this freedom came at a price. The British force that landed in Saint-Domingue in 1793 was too small to conquer the colony, being capable only of holding only few coastal enclaves. Blackburn, Robin. [63] By this point, it was well known that service in the West Indies was virtually a death sentence. John E. Baur honors Haiti as home of the most influential revolution in history.[166]. Raynal's admonition was written thirteen years before the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which highlighted freedom and liberty but did not abolish slavery. Slavery sustained sugar production under harsh conditions; diseases such as malaria (brought from Africa) and yellow fever caused high mortality, thriving in the tropical Caribbean climate. Louverture abandoned the Spanish Army in the east and brought his forces over to the French side on 6 May 1794 after the Spanish refused to take steps to end slavery.[100]. This is an episode index for Mike Duncan's fabulous Revolutions Podcast. Leading 18th-century French writer Count Mirabeau had once said the Saint-Domingue whites "slept at the foot of Vesuvius",[42] suggesting the grave threat they faced should the majority of slaves launch a sustained major uprising. But today we proclaim it to the universe, and generations to come will glory in this decree; we are proclaiming universal liberty We are working for future generations; let us launch liberty into the colonies; the English are dead, today.[70]. Contrarily, Petion was beloved by his people, but despised by his northern counterpart. On 8 October 1803, the French abandoned Port-au-Prince as Rochambeau decided to concentrate what was left of his army at Le Cap. Rand, David. Sugar is a labor-intensive crop, which requires more slaves. And then, with the beginning of the revolution, the grand blancs started seeking local autonomy. However, Toussaint sent a message to Balcarres, warning him that if he persisted, to remember that Jamaica was not far from St Domingue, and could be invaded. However, this isolation allowed freed slaves to find profit in trade with Jamaica, and they gained power and wealth here. Many of the whites and free people of color who left Saint-Domingue for the United States settled in southern Louisiana, adding many new members to its French-speaking, mixed-race, and black populations. He believes the greatest difference between America and Rome is that compared to Rome, America has only spent a short time on the world stage. Within the next two months, as the violence escalated, the slaves killed 4,000 whites and burned or destroyed 180 sugar plantations and hundreds of coffee and indigo plantations. Please enjoy this chapter about Lafayette's tour of America on the eve of my own tour of America. By this point, his armies had made great strides. [87], Maitland knew that his forces could not defeat Toussaint, and that he had to take action to protect Jamaica from invasion. When the colonial governor refused, Og led a brief 300-man insurgency in the area around Le Cap, fighting to end racial discrimination in the area. So this further inflamed things. In the north of the country, the French forces were isolated in the two large ports of Cap Franais and Mle-Saint-Nicolas and a few smaller settlements, all supplied by a French naval force based primarily at Cap Franais. They still practiced traditions and religions that they brought with them from Africa, and that influenced the revolution as well. Thanks, and keep up the amazing work! Kate Hodgson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in French at the University of Liverpool, Tim Lockley, Reader in American Studies at the University of Warwick, Karen Salt, Fellow in History in the School of Language and Literature at the University of Aberdeen, Kate Hodgson at the University of Liverpool, Joan Dayan, Haiti, History and the Gods (University of California Press, 1998), Laurent Dubois, Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution (Harvard University Press, 2004), Carolyn E. Fick, The Making of Haiti: The Saint-Domingue Revolution from Below (University of Tennessee Press, 1990), John D. Garrigus, Before Haiti: Race and Citizenship in French Saint-Domingue (Palgrave Macmillan, 2006), David P. Geggus, Haitian Revolutionary Studies (Indiana University Press, 2002), David P. Geggus (ed. [71] Fortescue wrote that the aim of the British in the first expedition had been to destroy "the power of France in these pestilent islands only to discover when it was too late, that they practically destroyed the British army". Within the first couple of years, Toussaint LOuverture arose as a leader. It seems to have been a rather slow burning spark between 1789 and 1791. [115], By the end of April 1804, some 3,000 to 5,000 people had been killed[135] practically eradicating the country's white population. [164] The Enlightenment ideals and the initiation of the French Revolution were enough to inspire the Haitian Revolution, which evolved into the most successful and comprehensive slave rebellion in history. [114] (Other sources suggest the dogs may have been dogo cubanos sourced in their hundreds from Cuba rather than Jamaica. Apart from granting rights to free people of color, the Assembly dispatched 6,000 French soldiers to the island. [84] Simcoe used the new British troops to push back the Haitians under Toussaint, but in a counter-offensive, Toussaint and Rigaud stopped the offensive. Posted by: Some southern planters grew concerned that the presence of these slaves who had witnessed the revolution in Haiti would ignite similar revolts in the United States. The planters would be free to operate slavery as they pleased without the existing minimal accountability to their French peers. Yellow fever had decimated the French; by the middle of July 1802, the French lost about 10,000 dead to yellow fever. [105] The next French commander who tried to assault the ditch was General Charles Dugua, joined shortly afterwards by the column commanded by Leclerc. Dessalines paid large sums of money to liberate slaves on slave ships near the Haitian coast. "[8], Regarding modern history, Duncan has predicted that Silicon Valley may be seen in the future as groundbreaking as the Renaissance was, stating that "we have lived in the last twenty years through some of the most impressive advances in human civilization. [125] The affranchi lite, who continued to rule Haiti while the formidable Haitian army kept them in power. On 28 June, the squadron encountered a French convoy from Les Cayes off Mle-Saint-Nicolas, capturing one ship although the other escaped. [36], Benjamin Wittes directly modelled the introduction to the Lawfare Podcast on The History of Rome. Slave quarters were built on the lowest part of the property where there was no wind or ventilation, and there was excessive heat and it was very crowded. In the end of 1798, Maitland withdrew the last of his forces from Mole St Nicholas, as Toussaint took command of the fortress. They were hoping to have those freedoms. [105] General Boudet himself was wounded and as the French dead and wounded started to pile up in the ditch, the French retreated. White planters saw it as an opportunity to gain independence from France, which would allow them to take control of the island and create trade regulations that would further their own wealth and power. Finally, in August 1791, the slaves organized. A major effort by Christophe to take Port-au-Prince in mid1812 failed. "International Repercussions of the Haitian Revolution. Youve got characters like Nero who are these insane, larger-than-life, operatic madmen driving their country to ruin. Education Higher Education K-12 Society & Culture History Update frequency: every 9 days Average audio length: 33 minutes English United States 370 episodes since Sept. 15, 2013 serial IN THIS PODCAST Partly a consequence of the French Revolution and partly a backlash against the brutality of slave owners, it turned into a complex struggle involving not just the residents of the island but French, English and Spanish forces. The French had already lost a high proportion of their troops to yellow fever and other diseases. This slave rebellion was put down and the punishment the slaves received was so severe that no contemporary news reports about it exist. Browse the 18th Century era within the In Our Time archive. [107] Rochambeau invented a new means of mass execution, which he called "fumigational-sulphurous baths": killing hundreds of Haitians in the holds of ships by burning sulphur to make sulphur dioxide to gas them. Sylvia Musto, "Portraiture, Revolutionary Identity and Subjugation: Anne-Louis Girodet's Citizen Belley". [103] When Toussaint still failed to appear at Le Cap, Leclerc issued a proclamation on 17 February 1802: "General Toussaint and General Christophe are outlawed; all citizens are ordered to hunt them down, and treat them as rebels against the French Republic". The Haitian Revolution. 100 plantations were established between 1700 and 1704. [106] By the end of March, 5,000 French soldiers had died of yellow fever and another 5,000 were hospitalized with yellow fever, leading to a worried Leclerc to write in his diary: "The rainy season has arrived. [105] The first of the French columns to appear before the fort was commanded by General Jean Boudet, whose men were harassed by skirmishers until they reached a deep ditch the Haitians had dug. [106] The final French column to arrive was the one commanded by Rochambeau, who brought along heavy artillery that knocked out the Haitian artillery, though his attempt to storm the ditch also ended in failure with about 300 of his men killed. There never again was such a large-scale slave rebellion. There was a lot of tension between the grand blancs and the petit blancs who were vying for power and control in the colony. Enslaved blacks watched from the sidelines.[18]. Reportedly, he also ordered the unwilling to take part in the killings, especially men of mixed-race, so that blame would not rest solely on the black population. Except they say the Zapatistas "surrendered" in the end when, at least according to the podcast, they got 90% of their economic demands satisfied, plus official military positions - not jails or ropes. The parallels with modern times, and particularly contemporary America, leap off the page". 09 December 2015 at 05:12 PM. John | Besides initial cruelty that created the precarious conditions that bred the revolution, there was violence from both sides throughout the revolution. [24] Shortly afterwards, the ferocious Dessalines rode into Le Cap to submit to France and was rewarded by being made the governor of Saint-Marc, a place that Dessalines ruled with his customary cruelty. [83][85], In July 1797, Simcoe and Maitland sailed to London to advise a total withdrawal from Saint-Domingue. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Hispaniola. Posted by: He sent a letter to slaves all over the island introducing himself. However, much like his predecessors, this was achieved through forced labor which ultimately led to his downfall. [86] Rigaud took control of Jeremie without any cost to his forces, as Maitland withdrew his southern forces to Jamaica. [16] The death rate was so high that polyandryone woman being married to several men at the same timedeveloped as a common form of marriage among the slaves. [104] Dessalines never received the letter as he had already taken to the field, evaded a French column sent to capture him and stormed Logne. Not too long after, Boyer was able to secure cooperation with the general of the neighboring Spanish Haiti, and in February 1822 began a 22 year long unification with the eastern state. In addition, he led an invasion of neighboring Santo Domingo (December 1800), and freed the slaves there on 3 January 1801. The colony was not only the most profitable possession of the French colonial empire, but it was the wealthiest and most prosperous colony in the Caribbean. "Haiti, Slavery, and the Age of the Democratic Revolution". For most of the conflict, the British and Spanish supplied the rebels with food, ammunition, arms, medicine, naval support, and military advisors. While the exiles found themselves in a peaceful situation in the United Statessafe from the violence raging in both France and Haititheir presence complicated the already precarious diplomatic relations among Britain, France, and the U.S.
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