Background and Causes
What conditions did enslaved people face in Saint-Domingue before the revolution?
Enslaved people worked very hard, were often beaten, and lived in terrible conditions.
What triggered the slave revolt in 1791?
Enslaved people wanted freedom and better treatment, so they rose up.
How did the Haitian Revolution influence or impact other slave societies and colonial powers in the Americas and Europe?
It scared slave owners and inspired enslaved people elsewhere to fight for freedom.
How was the Haitian Revolution different from other slave revolts in the Americas?
The Haitian Revolution was the only revolution to both free enslaved people and form their own country.
Who were the first Europeans to settle the island of Haiti?
The French
Name one of the main leaders of the Haitian Revolution.
Toussaint L’Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines
What was the significance of Haiti becoming the first Black republic and the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere?
It showed that enslaved people could win freedom and run their own country.
In what ways did the Haitian Revolution fulfill or fall short of the ideals of liberty and equality that inspired it?
The Haitian Revolution fulfilled the ideals of liberty and equality that inspired it by freeing enslaved people, however the country still faced challenges like impoverishment.
What inspired or influenced the Haitian Revolution?
Ideas of freedom and equality from the French Revolution and the Enlightenment inspired people in Haiti to fight for their rights and freedom.
What role did other foreign powers, such as Spain and Britain, play in the revolution?
Spain and Britain tried to take parts of Haiti during the revolution but failed.
What were the immediate effects of the revolution on Haiti’s society, economy, and political structure?
Haiti became independent, slavery ended, and Black people led the country for the first time.
How did life for freed enslaved people change in Haiti after gaining independence?
Although enslaved people were freed, they still faced poverty due to the fact that many countries would not trade with Haiti.
What were the main social groups in Saint-Domingue before the revolution?
There were white plantation owners, free people of color, poor whites, and enslaved Africans.
How did Napoleon Bonaparte and France respond to the Haitian Revolution, and what actions did they take to try to regain control?
Napoleon sent soldiers to take back Haiti, but the Haitian fighters defeated them.
How did the revolution affect the transatlantic slave trade and the expansion of slavery elsewhere, such as in the United States?
Some countries made slavery stricter out of fear, but others started thinking about ending it.
Why might the Haitian Revolution be sometimes less talked about in history classes compared to the American or French Revolutions?
The Haitian Revolution is often less talked about because it was led by enslaved people, and some countries were uncomfortable with the idea of successful slave revolts. Also, Haiti faced isolation and negative attitudes from other nations after its independence.