The Haitian Revolution of 1971-1804 was the only black Revolution that ended with the proclamation of an independent state. It is a unique historical period in which political, economic, social, and spiritual circumstances intersect. This event became the key to changes throughout the then civilized world and in the territories of the New World. The Revolution forever changed the attitude of Europeans towards slavery and blacks, who were considered animals. Europe was going through the agony of revolutions (the bloody French Revolution caused incredible damage to European society and changed it forever), which served as the beginning of colossal social changes. The Haitian Revolution showed a vast gap between theorizing about a possible or future revolution and putting the Revolution into practice.
This gap was influenced by many factors, including the implementation of the value of freedom in practice. In the minds of the French, slavery was conceptualized and explained logically. For the French, Africans were uneducated, which gave the French the right to discriminate based on European literature education and knowledge. The French were forced to change their attitude towards slavery and Africans in particular after the 1804 massacre (“PBS Egalite for All: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution (2009)” 03:15–05:21). The society and its members individually faced a crisis breaking previous stereotypes, traditions, and foundations. Europeans did not consider Africans under the focus of power and physical strength. Freedom demands thwarted the plans of Napoleon Bonaparte and other Frenchmen to create a French empire with large colonies and rich territories.
Initially, discontent ripened among the colored population, mulattoes, who also possessed slaves and certain plantations and lands. Despite the superficial economic resemblance to the French, the latently colored population, born of mixed marriages, felt condemnation and lack of full rights. The role of race and identity is difficult to assess since mixed marriages influenced the formation of a layer of mulattoes who felt powerlessness. Some of the Africans were loyal to the French government and sided with France during the hostilities; Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti an exclusively black territory.
The violence and excessive cruelty of Africans towards Europeans during the revolution, as already mentioned above, had a severe impact on the Europeans, causing a severe crisis. No one has ever viewed Africans as a source of danger, death, or serious crime. If an African committed a petty crime or misdemeanor while resting or working, the owner had full rights for lightning retribution and punishment. The massacre of 1804 was a turning point, and no one expected this attack. Researchers at the moment cannot predict how ordinary slaves treated their moral virtues and duty during the riot. However, military generals of African descent linked revolution with the desire for freedom, one of the essential moral virtues. The rejection of life in the name of freedom for Haitians is a cry from the heart, in which it is declared that they are not ready to endure the quality of life that the Europeans have given them. They choose death to have the right to control, if not their own life, then their end: the time and circumstances of death.
Under the flag of equality, the French demanded a certain level of assimilation and acceptance of culture. The French have maintained an expansionist sentiment, declaring, equality is possible with a certain subordination. This subordination concerned religion, literature, spiritual heritage in philosophy, art, poetry, etc. Haitian equality denied such compliance, but the revolution failed to cope with an economic foundation tailored to the slave system. Ordinary Africans often felt themselves after the course, living in an independent state, as weak-willed slaves.
François Louverture is a central charismatic figure during the Haitian Revolution. His life is tragically cut short by an inflammation of the lungs, and history has prevented researchers from examining how he would behave if he gained legal and political power in the territories for which he fought. As you know, generals and military commanders can manifest themselves in different ways in situations of military confrontation and during a quiet life, having total power over territories and people. Louverture remained a symbol and charismatic figure that went far into history, while Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who betrayed him, went over to the side of Leclerc and Napoleon. The rule of Dessalines for Haiti turned into a dictatorial regime in which the emperor showed aggression and cruelty.
The Haitian Revolution brutally shattered Europeans’ attitudes towards Africans and slavery. The revolution led to the abolition of slavery in the territory, but it was started to express dissatisfaction with mulattoes born in mixed marriages. The course was filled with bloodshed and cruelty, not always motivated and having only a thirst for revenge in its foundation. The Haitians opposed the French concept of equality; however, have ended up being hostages of the then economic system, they continued the hard work in the sugar and coffee plantations. General François Louverture is considered one of the most important figures of the revolution, who was betrayed by his supporters, one of whom was Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who later gave birth to a dictatorial regime in Haiti.
Work Cited
“PBS Egalite for All: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution (2009).”YouTube, uploaded by Uptown Flava, 2012.