Haitian+Revolution

Haitian Revolution

[|Haitian Revolution Mark Up] Haitian Revolution Original Document [|Haitian Revoultion Article] __**Document Summary**__: Unlike other revolutions of it's times, the Haitian Revolution was a "true social revolution." Haiti was a main source of the world's sugar, coffee, indigo, and cotton, with 30,000 slaves from African slave arriving on the island each year. The plantations were owned by rich whites, along with poor whites and freed colors living on the island. The revolution began with freed colors Vincent Ogé and Jean-Baptiste Chavannes asking for freeing the slaves, and being executed. The slaves soon began an uprising and, led by Toussaint Louverture fought from 1791-1799, with slavery being abolished in 1793. France regretted giving slaves freedom, so Napoleon restored slavery and sent his brother-in-law to rule. After Toussaint was jailed and killed, the Haitians began revolting, again. They defeated the French in November 18, 1803 and got rid of all whites from the island. Haiti became a free nation in 1804, but wasn't recognized by others until the 1820s.


 * __Book Summary__**: The country of Satin Domingue was vital to Spain because of it's rich exports, produced by slaves on the island. Because the white French on the island refused to give the blacks and mulattoes the right to vote, as said in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This led to a revolt between the mulattoes and slaves, led by freed slave Toussaint Louverture, against the French on the island. With Toussaint's army winning, he soon assumed power. Napoleon soon sent a general to regain control, and soon agreed to peaceful terms with Toussaint before they sent him to prison, where he later died in 1803. The revolutionaries kept fighting, winning their independence in 1804 and declaring their new nation Haiti.

-I don't think America got involved in the revolution for quite a few reasons. First, they just won their independence and had to get settled as a country first before they began helping others out in their problems. It also would have been tough to decide who to help. It was either help Haiti, who were fighting for their independence like America was just a short time ago, or help France, who played a vital role in helping America win their independence from France's biggest rival. In order to not step on any toes and keep the good for the new country in mind, it was best if America not get involved in the revolution in Haiti.
 * //Why didn't the U.S. get involved in the Revolution?// **