Haitian Independence

Before 1804, who (which country) controlled Haiti?

Causes of Latin AmericanRevolutions

1. Enlightenment Ideas writings of John Locke, Voltaire, & Jean Rousseau; Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine.

2. Creole discontent at being left out of gov-ernment jobs and trade concessions.

3. Inspiration of American and French Revolu-tions.

4. Spain was taken over by Napoleon Bona-parte (from France.)

What was the Enlighten-ment?Get rid of kings! We don’t need

one man or woman telling us what to do!

If you give people rights (to vote, to live freely) they will have suc-cess.

Other countries that are far away should not govern (control) an-other country.

Napoleon on the March

Now that Napoleon is fighting and con-quering Europe, countries are paying less attention to Latin America. It’s a

good time to be free!

The slaves in Haiti have had enough! They attack the French people who had controlled them! They tor-ture the families.

Night of Fire1791

Toussaint L’OuvetureLeads a Revolution

in Haiti(1804)

The slaves are bashing the heads of the French, but if Haiti wants independence, they need a leader. Toussaint was edu-cated and a great leader. He leads attacks on the French soldiers and takes back land.

Toussaint used surprise attacks with his guer-rilla army. He was kinder than the slaves, though. If the French townspeople surren-dered, he would treat them well and not bash their brains.

1794- A great moment for Haiti! France freed all slaves!

1795-1801 -Toussaint was now the ruler of not only St. Domingue (old name for Haiti), but all of the island of Hispaniola (also Dominican Repub-lic).

Napoleon breaks his promise to the Haitians. He wants to start slavery again. Why? He knows he can make lots of money from slave work. They don’t have to pay slaves, slaves must do the work for free.

Toussaint fights back extra hard against the new French soldiers!

The French trick Toussaint into coming to a meeting. They capture him and his family and carry them to a prison in France.

Since it was so cold for him in the French prison, he died of pneumonia in 1803!

Now, Haiti had lost their best leader ever!

De

Times were looking very bad for Haiti. The French troops, who had better weapons and ability kept coming to fight. The new leader, Dessalines, was more like a dictator, and not a great leader like Tous-saint.

Haiti would need a mir-acle to beat the French!

Dessalines

Yellow Fever!

This deadly disease killed thousands of French soldiers. The Haitians were immune to it! (Their bodies were used to it) The general of the French soldiers also got sick and they all went back home with no victory.

January 1, 1804 – Haiti was finally independent from the French!