Haitian+Revolution

French Cruelties in St. Domingue (1802) Haiti made the most income during the Age of Napolean for the French because they were able to import/export sugar, cotton, and other goods to make profit. The people of Haiti were helping the French pay off their debts. Eventually, they revolted. In 1802, the French carried out cruelty and violence against those in Saint Domingue. When the French paraded a group of about 600 haitians, they were brutally killed because they resisted to disarm their weapons. The bodies of hundreds of negroes were thrown into the sea. American vessels spotted these bodies floating in the sea but they did not do anything about it. The French were getting away with horrible actions against the people of Haiti. Many countries knew the things that were being done in Haiti but did not try to aid the people.

Please write a summary for the Haitian Revolution using your notes, today's mini-lecture and the text p. 298. Answer the who? what? where? when? & why it's important.

Saint Domingue was the first Latin American territory that decided to break connection from Europe. Saint Domingue was France's most richest possessions because of the sugar exports but it was built on slave labor. Since the French controlled Haiti, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen applied to all free men, including mulattoes, people of mixed African and European ancestry. Those people agreed to follow those laws but French settlers resisted it. Toussaint L'Ouverture took initiative as tensions rose. He revolted against French settlers with a group of mulattoes and slaves. L'Ouverture was seen as a hero during this time as he took over the colony. Napolean then sent a French general to take back the colony. In 1802, L'Ouverture and the French made an agreement to stop fighting for a while but the French went against their word and sent him to prison, where he died in 1803. In 1804, Saint Domingue officially declared their independence from France, and named their nation Haiti!

Inference: Why didn't the US get involved in the Haitian Revolution??

The United States did not get involved in the Haitian Revolution because it was too new of country to actually take part in another colony's revolt against France. It would bring them into conflict with the French which could affect the United States economically. If trade with France stopped, there could be an inflation of sugar prices and other goods. They tried to remain neutral because after Napolean became uninterested in American land and sold the Louisiana purchase, that meant they were safe from conflict. If they tried to help the revolt of the people in Saint Domingue, Napolean could have shifted his plans to take over the young United States.