From Enlightenment To The Haitian Revolution

From erudition To The Haitian renewalThe purpose of this research paper is to follow the raceway of the cut depth through its sexual revolution, and, consequently, its revolutions in its New land colonies. Upon doing so, it will be determined that ideologies present in the cut Enlightenment are present in the following revolutions. Furthermore, it will be reason out that the cut Revolution not only resulted in revolutions in its colonies, merely it served as the catalyst due to faulty trans-Atlantic bureaucracy.The Age of Enlightenment was a period in Europe that has deep roots in France. The last goal of this causa was to reform society, watch knowledge, and enforce the new impr e veryplace and liberal ideologies the Enlightenment gave birth to (Hyland et al., 2003). Great works from Descartes and John Locke advocated for the equality of all men and women and an terminal to political relation corruption and abuse of situation (2003). While these ideas remove been posited in the past, the affectionate and political conditions of France demanded they be answered. The end of the Enlightenment directly coincides with the beginning of the cut Revolution in 1789.The cut Revolution began in 1789 due to a myriad of causes ranging from the tangible to the philosophical with ideals from the enlightenment existence the catalyst (Anderson, 2005). Combine this with Frances debt riddles, its attempt to solve the problem through raising taxes, and the history of broken promises from the Monarchy, a revolution of the project with ideas of equality was bound to happen (2005). When Paris was consumed by riots and the cut safe took sides with the revolutionaries, the motion had begun which would have drastic implications for Frances territories abroad. To briefly summarize the effects of the French Revolution in its territories, the dissolution of the monarchy, lack of control over its opposed operations, and the resources needed domestically to mana ge the revolution, resulted in France losing its forcefulness hold over its colonies (2005).The historical significance of Haiti will be discussed heavily however, it is important to agnise that while France was having its own internal changes, the development of the colonies carried its own set of problems that would considerablely aid in the revolutions against France. It was not a question that since the French Revolution was explicitly built on the war cries of liberty and equality that this nous would find it in the mechanisms behind the French break anes back trade and colonial system.French SlaveryThere were several French colonies in the Caribbean in which thralldom was the modus operandi for their plantation based economies. The plantations typically produced sugar, coffee, and, later, cotton. Due to the size of enshrine Domingue, present day Haiti, it will receive the most emphasis. Saint Domingue had well-nigh 500,000 slaves (Fick, 1990). Ironically, approximatel y one third of all slaves owned were owned by previously surplusd slaves however, these free slaves were not allowed to hold any office or practice in any profession.The slave system in the French colonies was regulated by a series of edicts from the King, the most important being the French enrol Noir proclaimed in March of 1685 (Fick, 1990). While this engrave presented the terms and conditions of slave owning and managing through a strictly religious perspective, they draft how slaves would be sold, how their family life would be dictated, forms of punishments, and life after slavery irrelevant British slaves, many French slaves could make uptually become free (The Code Noir, 1687). Saint Domingue was Frances most profitable colony and most pivotal in its Atlantic slave trade. At this point, it is essential to emphasize two primordial points. The first is that Saint Domingue was Frances most profitable colony. The second is that France was entering a period of Enlightenmen t at this time.Due to the importance of the slaves in the islands and the rebel of enlightenment in France, many French diplomats began to attempt to understand the slaves for which they were answerable for. One notable individual is Mederic Louis Elie Moreau de Saint Mery, who approached the slaves from an almost anthropological and social point of view. Upon doing so, he realized several key tenants that would dictate how the French treated the slaves and their approaching role in the Haitian revolution. He conclude that many slaveholders worryed the threat of slaves running away, try to poison them, and a great fear for their religious which many viewed as barbaric and rooted in African voodoo (de St. Mery, 1947).Saint Domingues Response to the French RevolutionUpon consultation of the enlightenment foreparts and the quest for liberty and equality taking hold in France, the colonies were quick to take part by sending delegates to France to demand federal agency in the new National aggregation that would be formed. The purpose of this movement was to ensure the economical interests of white planters would be accounted for. The mulattos, or previously freed slaves, also sent delegates to France, but they were ignored for the most part. The main agent of deed would come from the Society of Friends of the Blacks whose members included Jacques-Pierre Brissot and the leader of abolition in Britain, doubting Thomas Clarkson. Branching off of enlightenment ideologies, the sought the commencement of abolition and to pursue better public traffic with slaves including more rights and government positions. As Fick would suggest, however, their efforts disappear on deaf ears and quickly became overshadowed by the crisis of the First French country and the outbreak of the Haitian Revolution (Gaspar et al., 1997).Even though French colonists, freed slaves, and slaves same attempted to gain greater rights and were promptly ignored, the necessity for dramati c changed intensified. The be intimate disregard of the homeland French from the French colonialist resulted in the radicals, supporters of the enlightenment, to fight for fatten out civil and political equality of blacks and slaves in the colonies. Needless to say, this was met which much fervor and antonym from the white plantation owners who had their economic and business interests to protect.As the French Revolution began the movement in favor of granting rights to free blacks and abolish the slave trade, the uncertainty of Saint Domingue became increasingly evident. Success of the working classes in France created a mentality that there was hope among the free blacks and mulattos in the colonies (Fick, 1990). The uncertainty for the future day of Saint Domingue resulted in an ever increasing polarization of the colony in which there was no middle ground to be found or settled upon. French radicals promised freedom for all, while white planters, fearful of this movement spr eading, demanded complete independence from France and an abolishment of the Code Noir in favor of a much stricter code (Fick, 1990). Very is little known amount the internal mechanisms of the slave revolt fomenting, but an excerpt from Henry Christophes slave paints seamy conditions when he writes, Have they not forced them to consume faeces? And, having flayed them with the last, have they not cast them alive to be devoured by worms, or lashed to risk in the swamp to be devoured by mosquitoes (Heine, 1996). With a sentiment akin this, it is certain that slaves wanted to be free.Another point to consider is the economic impact of freeing the slaves on the island this was the one issue the white plantations holders feared the most. Whether slavery was still utilised after the French Revolution or not, the incident of the matter is the burden would be placed upon the white plantation owners. These sentiments were reaffirmed by Americas ability to maintain a system of slavery desp ite British edicts to end the slave trade previously. They went even as far to call for the National Assembly to remove themselves from the French Constitutional powers and prosecute anyone by death who attempted to create a slave based rebellion this was tending(p), however it would prove not to be enough. Furthermore, initially blacks and mulattos believed their National Assembly would benefit them as it was going to benefit their counterparts in France however, this was not the case. The French governments, before during and after the revolution, had no intention to relinquish any power of its territories.Rising TensionsAs the National Assembly attempted to quell the opposition from the white plantation owners, unrest began to ferment in Saint Domingue. just about notably, the National Assembly and their March 1790 Decree failed to deal out the needs and political rights of free blacks this would be a major mistake (Brown.edu, 2012). While the free blacks had a strong underst anding of what was occurring, the slaves did not yet the French new slogan of liberty, equality, and freedom was easy to understand and began to ferment rebellious attitudes. The one key factor they had, that ultimately resulted in their success, was that slaves and free blacks accounted for a monumental majority of the population. As a result, slaves began to plan and coordinate how they were going to sabotage their owners, blacks and white alike.The first slave rebellion took place in October of 1790 in which 350 mulattos rebelled against their plantation owners (Brown.edu, 2012). This resulted in very violent killings in which owners were massacred and tortured in some cases. The rebellion was quickly quelled when the French militia line up with plantation owner resulting in the public execution of James Oge in 1791 (Brown.edu, 2012). Rather than quell rebellious sentiment, this action added fuel to the fire and served as an irreparable incident for the island.In order to com bat any future rebellions, the de factor leaders Francois Dominique Toussaint-Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines prompted the National Assembly in France to enact forward laws. As a result, on May 15, 1791, the National Assembly granted equal political rights to all free mulattos and blacks provided they were born from free parents (Brown.edu, 2012). This did very little to appease the majority slave population, and research shows that this law, although progressive, only use to a few hundred individuals. Needless to say, it was not want the slaves and agent slaves needed nor wanted. As a result of this law, white plantation owners utilized more aggressive and abusive policies to their slaves paving the way for the point of no return.The Haitian RevolutionDespite repeated efforts on all sides to address the issue of slavery, the demands on all parties were not being achieved. Fed up with government bureaucracy and familiar of Frances growing decline in the region, even more sl ave rebellions began to occur. The most notable occurred on August 22, 1791, in which the slaves began an approximate 7 years war against their colonialists (Anderson, 2005). It is important to note that during this time, the French National Assembly rescinded the rights given to free blacks and mulattos which only worsened relations and caused the slaves to burn down plantations, destroy government buildings, and massacre all whites and government officials. While the government in France, no matter the form, was unable nor noncompliant to do anything about the slavery situation in Saint Domingue, the slaves were comme il faut more organized and began to make pacts with British and Spanish navies for freedom. The growing fear of losing its colonies to foreign powers during its revolution forced France to abolish slavery on February 4, 1794 (Fick, 1997). This mark the first successful revolution of slaves against a foreign power.