Haiti and Toussaint L ' Ouverture Essay

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Nabeel Ahmed
Period 5
12/15/13
Biography: Toussaint L'Ouverture Toussaint made major changes in Haiti’s history. He is mostly known for fighting for the independence for Haiti. He was a “black” and was in the time of slavery. He was born in 1774 and was a self-educated slave freed shortly after the uprising in 1791. ("Toussaint L'Ouverture Biography.") He was part of the colony of Saint-Domingue. Slaves wanted to be treated as equal as the citizens of Saint-Domingue since the slaves also wanted the opportunity to impart their independence from Revolutionary France. The tensions from the groups forced France to become more involved from afar, to take action they sent officials to the colony to stave off the approaching revolt. This is where Toussaint comes in and makes a difference for his colony. (D.L. Chandler) It all started when the early leader and general of the slave rebels, Georges Biassou, and Toussaint as a doctor and junior commander joined each other’s forces in 1791. (C. L. R. James) Like many other slave rebels they fought along with the Spanish forces based in Santa-Domingo which is now the Dominican Republic. ("Toussaint L'Ouverture). Toussaint ended up fighting for the immediate ending of the practice of slavery. Later on the French politician Leger-Felicite Sonthonax traveled to the island in a bid to stave off the revolution in Saint-Domingue, but later unnoticeably ended slavery in the colony to get the ex-slaves to fight for him and extend his control of rich lands held there. Toussaint was really given the credit for the ending of slavery. (C. L. R. James) Even though many ex-slaves feared a return to their former treatment and began small skirmishes that disrupted progress Toussaint still had a goal of resorting order in Saint Domingue. (D.L. Chandler) In between 1796-1797, British forces that held coastal towns and began to attack, but their forces were largely defeated because of the outbreak of the yellow fever. (D.L. Chandler) Toussaint’s forces easily defeated them and because of their victory in 1798, he commanded all of French Saint-Domingue aside from one state held by mulatto general Andre Rigaud. Napoleon Bonaparte, who was military leader came into power in 1799, he created new laws for the colonies. Many people thought that he would bring back the idea of slavery, but Napoleon promised to follow the French law as long as Toussaint didn’t invade Santo Domingo. (Hochschild)

Toussaint proceeded anyway, defeating the small Spanish forces there, gaining control of the entire island. Napoleons brother in law, General Charles Leclerc ordered Napoleon’s troops to the island to strike a diplomatic deal to rule the island, although a secret plot was also made to deport Black officers was also in place. (Hochschild)
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