The first look at a Black Republic, 1804

The Haitian Revolution in 1804 is, in my opinion, the most iconic moment in the history of the Caribbean. To this day it marks the most successful uprising of those in servitude against European oppression, initiating the end of Trans-Atlantic trade around the world. For Africans in the Caribbean, the triumph of the revolution depicted what emancipation could look like outside of Africa as Haiti (renamed after its indigenous name) became THE first African led republic outside of the continent at that time.

The movement which took place over eleven years didn’t just allow slavery to be unlawful by 1807 but also abruptly ended French rule over the colony, restructuring it socially, politically and economically. 

During the 18th century, Haiti was the richest overseas French colony in the Caribbean due to its relentless production of sugar, indigo, cotton and coffee at the expense of life and labour from West Africa.

The French revolution in 1789 heavily influenced the uprising that later took place in Haiti as a new concept of human rights and democracy had been realised. This historical event set the precedent for others under colonial rule, with neighbouring islands later seeking independence. By 1966 Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada and St. Lucia to name a few had all become sovereign states in their own right.

When the Haitian revolution began in 1793, there were five class groups within Saint Dominigue (as it was known then). White planters who owned plantations and petit blancs who were more skilled such as artisan, teachers and shop keepers, both of which contributed only 40,000 to the island's total population. The change in laws from France regarding importing had left them feeling disenchanted with the government and with no real representation for their rights in the ‘mother country’, many began supporting independent movements on the island. 

The other remaining groups were all of African descent. Free Africans - through purchasing their freedom or by descent. Those who were free by descent were usually mulatto (mixed African and European heritage) and tended to be wealthier than the petit blancs, thus positioning them a class higher despite their ‘colour’. Then there were those who ran away - Maroons. Maroons were those who had evaded capture and went onto live in the mountains forming their own communities. By 1791, they had made up approximately 30,000 of the population. The remaining group were the 500,000 enslaved Africans, still under European control and inhibiting plantations. Haiti, as well many other islands in the Caribbean had experienced numerous uprisings, all of which contributed to the success of the final revolution. With a ratio of 10:1 (blacks to whites), all they needed was self belief and resilience.

The change in legislation by the French government ensued a civil war between the petit blancs, white planters and free blacks. Either way, they were still collectively outnumbered by the enslaved Africans who took the opportunity to dissemble the island amidst the existing civil chaos. On August 21st 1791, led by L'Ouverture, plantations throughout the island were destroyed, with all those enslaved rising up against their brutal oppression. By 1792, one third of the island was no longer under European control, instead, at the hands of those who had laboured it for the past century.

Despite reinforcements from France and support from the British, L’Overture prevailed and in 1801 continued into the Spanish part of the island, Santo Domingo (present day Domnican Republic) to abolish slavery there too, declaring himself governor of the entire island. In 1803, L'Ouverture was captured, detained and tortured in France where he later died. The French forces sent to capture him continued conflict on the island. One of L'Ouverture's generals and former slave, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, led the revolutionaries at the Battle of Vertieres on November 18, 1803. The French were defeated once more and on January 1st 1804, he declared the nation independent, renaming it to its indigenous name - Haiti.

To continue to commemorate this day, Haitians make soup joumou on January 1st, you can see my recipe and a bit more about it via my recipes page.