toussaint l’ouverture. history of haiti columbus l arrived in new world in 1492 l established base...
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Toussaint L’Ouverture
History of Haiti
ColumbusArrived in New World in
1492Established base in
Hispaniola Discovered gold there
Spanish SettlersRushed to HispaniolaForced Indians to mine gold
and raise foodBy 1530 only few hundred
Indians survived because of harsh treatment
Brought in slaves from Africa
Spanish Left For more prosperous colonies By 1606 so few left that Spanish
king ordered those remaining to move closer to main city (Santo Domingo)
Hispaniola, 1606 (Dutch
map)
French, English, & Dutch Settled north & west areas of island Many became pirates
–Attacked Spanish gold & silver shipments
Spain tried, unsuccessfully, to drive them out– In 1697, Spain recognized French control of western 1/3 of island
Renamed St. Dominique
French colonists brought African slaves
Developed large coffee & spice plantations
By 1788, 8 times more slaves (500,000) as
colonists
Toussaint’s Background
Birth ?1743 to 1746Plantation on St. Dominique
Personal servant to humane man–Opportunity to learn
Toussaint’s Family Eldest of 8 children Father had been African chief Parents & grandfather taught
him:–History–Languages–Philosophy
–Math –Family traditions–Christian faith
Island of Haiti, 1754 (French)
Course of Events in Struggle for Haitian
Independence
1789-1804
1789French RevolutionNational Assembly issued
Declaration of the Rights of Man –Free people of color in St. Dominique did not get promised citizenship
1790March 8National Assembly
–Voted to allow colonial whites to determine colony’s political life
–People of color could not
1791May 15National Assembly gave all free
men of color (with 2 free parents) full rights
This forced whites to consider separation from France
1791Aug. 22-23Slave revolt because of brutal
slave system–Toussaint helped his master’s family escape
St. Dominique whites decided to fight for freedom from France
1791Toussaint joined fight
–Doctor for St. Dominique army
–Eventually a leader (with knowledge based on reading works by Caesar & others)
1791Sept. 24Assembly revoked May 15th
decree
1792March 28Assembly reversed again
–All free men of color got full citizen rights
1792April 4Louis XVI signed May 15th
decree
1793February 1France declared war on BritainToussaint supported Spanish
–Spanish king would be secure–French republic too insecure
1793AugustNational Convention abolished
slavery in St. DominiqueBy year’s end, Toussaint had
conquered north-central St. Dominique for Spain
1793
Spain and Britain –Encouraged slaves to get freedom from the French
–May have had informal arrangement to divide colony
1794February 4France abolished slavery in
colonies
1794May 6Toussaint abandoned Spanish
–Spanish showed no signs of keeping word on freeing slaves
–British had reinstated slavery –If freedom was his goal, he had no choice…support the French
1794He joined French on
promise of freedom –Helped his family flee beforehand
–Became brigadier generalTide then swung in favor of
French
1794 July 22Peace agreement between
France and Spain
1795Treaty of Basel
–Spain ceded holdings to France–Ceased hostilities
Blacks who had remained loyal to Spanish flocked to Toussaint’s army
1796March 30Toussaint rescued French
commander from Mulatto-led effort to depose him–In reward he was made lieutenant governor of St. Dominique
1797 French Convention made
Toussaint commander-in-chief He resolved to quickly establish
autonomous black state–Expelled French commissioner–Made agreement with Britain to end hostilities
–Sought loyalty of Mulattos
1799After defeat of Spanish &
British, he moved toward independence from France
Wanted to be on equal footing with France and other major powers
1799War of the CastesFrench sought Mulatto
support to retain dominion over colony
Toussaint’s army fought Mulattos
1799 He asked US President John
Adams for help–Adams wanted the arrangement–Yet US young, insecure nation
The alliance–Adams sent arms and ships–Toussaint would stop French from using island as base
1799French & US revolutions inspired
him –Some officers had fought with French army in US War for Ind.
French governor gave him nickname L’Ouverture (break through enemy lines)
1799 Jefferson
–Referred to Toussaint’s army as cannibals
–As President reversed Adams’ St. Dominique policies
1799Nov. 9—Napoleon came to
powerWanted:
–Toussaint out–To reestablish slavery
1800May Toussaint became military
dictatorBelieved it was most efficientWorked on restoring order &
productivity
1800Needed export-oriented
economyRe-imposed plantation system
–Utilized non-slaves–Basically relied on forced labor
1800Oct. 1Secret treaty of San
IldefonsoSpain ceded Louisiana to
France
1801Colonial Assembly approved
constitution–Toussaint became Governor-General-For-Life
He “liberates” St. Dominique–Never formally severs bond with France
1801Constitution gave Napoleon
reason for sending French troops–Technically French colony–Acting as independent state
It worried slave-holding nations such as Britain & US
1801Napoleon regarded St.
Dominique as essential to French exploitation of New World
Napoleon is weakened–Toussaint drained resources of the colony
1802 January Napoleon sent troops to re-
enslave Blacks of St. Dominique–Aided by Mulattos & Whites
Two of Toussaint’s lieutenants transferred their allegiance to French
1802May 5Toussaint, recognizing his
weak position, surrenderedFrench assured him that he
could retire quietly
1802 JuneToussaint taken to FranceForbade his soldiers from
retaliating against French prisoners
1802
French commander, Rochambeau, retreated–Mutilated black prisoners –Left them to die slowly
1802Toussaint’s troops had
French prisoners hanged within sight of
French army
1802US newspapers covered uprisings
with Toussaint as black Napoleon –Intensified US slaveholders’ fear of US slave revolt
Inspired British (on verge of abolishing slave trade) to keep it
1802Other Blacks who had sided
with French now turned against them because of:–Betrayal of Toussaint–Napoleon’s restoration of slavery in Martinique
1803April 7Died of neglect in a jail in
the Alps
1803 April 30 Louisiana Purchase
–Napoleon needed money to fight British (began to consider sale on April 10)
–Revolution in St. Dominique crushed hope of American empire
1803May 12Britain declared war on
France –Aided Haitian rebels–Gave French someone to surrender to other than Blacks
1803November French commander in St.
Dominique surrendered to British –Never had gotten enough reinforcements and supplies
1804 January 1 Toussaint’s successor (one of his
lieutenants) declared St. Dominique the independent country of Haiti
Jean Jacques Dessalines became Haiti's first emperor in 1804– Gave it Arawak name Haiti– World's first independent black
republic
1822—After Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti
No Portrait While AliveWell-known portrait was
painted in 1832 by a Frenchman, influenced by 30 years of vilification, “a villain . . . this serpent which France has warmed in her bosom”
William Wordsworth’s “To Toussaint L’Ouverture”
Toussaint, the most unhappy man of men!Whether the whistling Rustic tend his ploughWithin thy hearing, or thy head be nowPillowed in some deep dungeon’s earless den;O miserable Chieftain! Where and whenWilt thou find patience? Yet die not; do thou Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow:
Though fallen thyself, never to rise again,
Live, and take comfort. Thou hast left behind
Powers that will work for thee: air, earth, and skies;
There’s not a breathing of the common wind
That will forget thee; thou hast great allies;
Thy friends are exultations; agonies,
And love, and man’s unconquerable mind.
Journals of a Soldier, Howard
“This force (Toussaint) aided by disease and political events in Europe, defeated Napoleon’s ambition to build a great colonial empire in the Americas . . .”
Citizen Toussaint, Korngold
Korngold claims Toussaint entered into a secret treaty with the US on July 13, 1799. This was so that he would not send out troops against any English colony or the United States.
Citizen Toussaint, Korngold
“. . .but for the Negro general the (Louisiana)Territory might have remained a French colony.”
Citizen Toussaint, Korngold
“Napoleon’s ambition was to build a great colonial empire. The keystone of that empire was of course to be the incomparable colony of St. Domingo, from which France is said to have derived more profit than all
other nations derived from their combined colonies in Asia, Africa, & America.”
Citizen Toussaint, Korngold
“The first step in Napoleon’s colonial program was…the elimination of Toussaint Louverture. The second was the retrocession by Spain, to the French Republic, of the Louisiana Territory, for… St. Domingo…(was)… dependent for its supplies on
the United States,
Citizen Toussaint, Korngold
a dangerous neighbor both by its political example and its commercial and maritime rivalry with the mother country. The First Consul hoped to correct this evil by substituting Louisiana for the United States as a source of
supplies for St. Domingo.”
Citizen Toussaint, Korngold
“Had (he) succeeded (in subduing St. Dominique), Napoleon would have carried out his project, and the Louisiana Territory would have remained a French colony.”
Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Leyburn
“The part played by Toussaint for a brief moment in the history of the United States is full of significance. (I)f Napoleon had been successful in the re-conquest of Saint-Dominique he would have turned his attention to America rather than to Europe, for he had great colonial schemes.”
Decline Revolution wrecked Haiti's
economy Continued decline
– Years of strife between mulattos who dominated the economy and the majority black population
– Disputes with neighboring Santo Domingo
1900s After several dictatorships, bankrupt Haiti
accepted U.S. receivership 1905-1941– Occupation by US Marines 1915-1934 brought stability– Most densely populated WH nation
Democracy then followed by dictatorship 1957—François Duvalier, “Papa Doc”
– Secret police kept political stability with brutality 1971—His son, Jean-Claude, or “Baby Doc,”
succeeded after father’s death 1980s, one of first countries to have AIDS epidemic
– Fear of disease caused tourists to stay away– Tourist industry collapsed, causing rising unemployment– Unrest generated by economic crisis forced Baby Doc to
flee in 1986
1990s International community tried to establish
democracy 1991—First elected chief executive, Jean-
Bertrand Aristide– Leftist Roman Catholic priest– Seemed to promise new era in Haiti
Military took control in coup nine months later UN peacekeeping force, led by the US arrived
in 1994 and restored Aristide to office René Preval succeeded him in 1996 elections US soldiers and UN peacekeepers left in 2000
2000 Haiti's government remained ineffectual and
economy was in ruins– Highest rates of AIDS, malnutrition, and infant
mortality in region 2000, former president Aristide reelected
president– Elections boycotted by opposition– Foreign observers questioned results
US and other countries threatened Haiti with sanctions unless democratic procedures strengthened
Aristide, once charismatic champion of democracy, grew more authoritarian, incapable of improving people lives
2004 Jan.—Violent protests (Haiti's bicentennial)
– Protesters demanded Aristide resignation February—full-blown armed revolt
– Feb. 29—Aristide ousted because of protests, groups of armed rebels, and French and American pressure
US-led international force tried to restore order
Interim government took over September—Hurricane Jeanne
– Killed more than 2,400 people– Lawlessness and gang violence were
widespread– Interim government had no control over some
areas, which were run by armed former soldiers
2006 Feb. 7—Held elections
– Backed by 9,000 United Nations troops Former prime minister and Aristide protégé
René Préval, very popular among poor, seen as favorite
Election count indicated Préval's lead over other candidate dropping and that he would not win an outright majority
Préval contested election charging “massive fraud and gross errors had stained the process.”
Feb. 14—Interim government halted election count
Feb. 15--After votes recounted, Préval declared winner
2008-9 April 2008—Prime Minister Jacques-Édouard Alexis
was removed from office by Senate– It held him responsible for poor economy
President Preval designated Ericq Pierre as new prime minister, but lower house of Parliament rejected Pierre
July—Parliament approved nomination of Michèle Pierre-Louis for prime minister– Second woman prime minister of Haiti
Nov. 2009—Senate voted to oust Prime Minister Pierre-Louis– International donors saw her as competent
leader who could effectively use aid to improve infrastructure and economy
She was replaced by Jean-Max Bellerive
2010 Earthquake Magnitude 7.0 earthquake Struck 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince,
the country's capital Region's worst earthquake in 200+ years Fatalities are expected to near 100,000 Destroyed government buildings, foreign aid
offices, and countless slums Prime Minister Préval said, "Parliament has
collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed.“
UN mission in Haiti was destroyed, 16 members of UN peacekeeping force in Haiti killed, and hundreds of UN employees missing
Government– Constitution – 1987– Executive president and bicameral legislature– Elections
President every five years Chamber of Deputies every four years Senate every six years
Economy– World Bank estimates 85% of people live below absolute
poverty line– 2/3’s of employed work in agriculture, mainly in coffee
plantations which generate 25% of Haiti’s export earnings
Suffered from periodic droughts and low world prices Sugar cane, sweet potatoes, cocoa also exported
– Mining industry extracts marble, limestone and clay– Tourism, once promising, has all but vanished thanks to
political instability
Current Govt/Economy
Haiti Stats US Per capita income:
$1,300 Population (2009
est.): 9,035,536 (growth rate: 1.8%)
Infant mortality rate: 59.7/1000
Life expectancy: 60.7
Density per sq km: 323
Per capita income: $47,500
Population (2009 est.): 307,212,123 (growth rate: 0.9%);
Infant mortality rate: 6.2/1000
Life expectancy: 78.1
Density per sq mi: 85
2010 Earthquake
Presidential Palace
Toussaint L’Ouverture