Thursday, April 18, 2013

Egalite for All: Toussaint L'ouverture and the Haitian Revolution


From PBS; Douglas A. Egerton, Professor of History, Le Moyne College  --  All of the American newspapers covered events in Saint Domingue, in a great deal of detail. All Americans understood what was happening there. It wasn't that the revolution in Saint Domingue taught mainland slaves to be rebellious or to resist their bondage. They had always done so, typically as individuals who stole themselves and ran away sometimes in small groups who tried to get to the frontier and build maroon colonies and rebuild African societies.

But the revolutionaries in Saint Domingue, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, were not trying to pull down the power of their absentee masters, but join those masters on an equal footing in the Atlantic world. And the revolt in Haiti reminded American slaves, who were still enthusiastic about the promise of 1776, that not only could liberty be theirs if they were brave enough to try for it, but that equality with the master class might be theirs if they were brave enough to try. For black Americans, this was a terribly exciting moment, a moment of great inspiration. And for the southern planter class, it was a moment of enormous terror.


The planter class was scared of [L'Ouverture], but had no doubts that he knew exactly how to get what he wanted. His name, L'Ouverture, is a name that his soldiers applied to him. It meant this was a man who always found his opening. In the southern white mind, Toussaint L'Ouverture was a terrifying but very competent figure. He was often depicted in southern newspapers as sort of a black Napoleon, somebody who could always find his opening, somebody who would always be successful in battle. There was no doubt in the white mind that they were dealing with a very fierce and very dangerous foe.

Although it's quite clear that Toussaint was deeply inspired by events both in France and the United States, and some of his chief lieutenants had in fact been on the American mainland with the French army during the American Revolution, Jefferson was always the first to deny any sort of revolutionary heritage to people other than whites of European descent.


Jefferson was terrified of what was happening in Saint Domingue. He referred to Toussaint's army as cannibals. His fear was that black Americans, like Gabriel, would be inspired by what they saw taking place just off the shore of America. And he spent virtually his entire career trying to shut down any contact, and therefore any movement of information, between the American mainland and the Caribbean island.

He called upon Congress to abolish trade between the United States and what after 1804 was the independent country of Haiti. He argued that France believed it still owned the island. In short, he denied that Haitian revolutionaries had the same right to independence and autonomy that he claimed for American patriots. And consequently, in 1805 and finally in 1806, trade was formally shut down between the United States and Haiti, which decimated the already very weak Haitian economy. And of course, Jefferson then argued this was an example of what happens when Africans are allowed to govern themselves: economic devastation, caused in large part by his own economic policies.  [source: PBS; Douglas A. Egerton, Professor of History, Le Moyne College]

Egalite for All. Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution (PBS)

25 comments:

  1. The problem with such Toussaint centric rendering of the Haitian revolution is that it leaves out his precursors such as Makandal, Boukman, etc. Blacks didn't just wake up one day, hear whites and others speak of freedom and decide to rise up. As early as the 1750's, some 30 years prior to the French revolution, Makandal scared the hell out of the whites and other slave owners by preaching the destruction of their evil system. Nice job, keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I absolutely agree with you. Furthermore, I'm not a big advocate of the "big man" version of history. In that the "big man" history simplifies and totally relegates the "common man" or "everyday man" to the margins of history.

      This is simply just one blog post, of which there could be volumes of books written about this topic. I'm not a Francophone (French as a primary language), so much of my readings about Haitian history gets lost in translation. Since this is an Educational Site, I try my best to use primary sources, or conscious scholars -- sometimes I fall short, but keep reading and keep me on my toes.

      I view the historic iconography of Toussaint L'ouverture, much like the historic iconographic depictions of Martin Luther King, they are portals to be used as a gateway into further understanding of our collective history.

      Thanks for your comments.

      -- Ron Edwards, US Slave Blog

      Delete
  2. Normally I don't learn post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite nice article.

    Also visit my web blog - Useful Reference

    ReplyDelete
  3. I every time spent my half an hour to read this website's articles or reviews all the time along with a cup of coffee.

    Also visit my web site - cost of dental implant

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's really a cool and useful piece of info. I am happy that you just shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

    Feel free to surf to my web site; Visit For English Goldendoodle Breeders Stuff

    ReplyDelete
  5. While using the rapid changing pounds selector dial, the Bowflex Dumbbells SelectTech 552 is also a terrific selection for anyone seeking to keep
    up with a single on the quite a few well-known training video clips on the market.



    My webpage :: just click the following page

    ReplyDelete
  6. I beliеve everything typed wаѕ very logical.

    Hοwever, what about thiѕ? what if уоu weге to wrіte а kіller headlinе?
    I аm not ѕuggestіng your cοntеnt
    is nοt gοοԁ, howеver
    suppose you аdded ѕomеthing
    tо mаybе get folk's attention? I mean "Egalite for All: Toussaint L'оuverture аnd the Haitіan Rеvоlution" is a little vanilla. You could look at Yahoo's home page and watch how they create news headlines to get people to click. You might add a related video or a pic or two to grab readers interested about what you've got to say. In my opinion, it could make your posts a little livelier. visit the up coming site

    ReplyDelete
  7. What's up, this weekend is fastidious for me, since this occasion i am reading this great informative post here at my residence.

    Here is my blog ... cheap galaxy s3 cases

    ReplyDelete
  8. I pay a visit each day a few web sites and information sites to
    read content, however this blog provides feature based posts.



    Feel free to surf to my web blog online graduate certificate

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love what you guys tend to be up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
    Keep up the amazing works guys I've included you guys to our blogroll.

    Here is my weblog :: Abercrombie & Fitch

    ReplyDelete
  10. He hаd to work in an aігcraft faсtory
    during the war, and the enginеeгіng knowledge hе gathered there turneԁ hiѕ vision for
    shoes and shoe design upside down. You can also enjoy
    the zip-up bοots with саsual flunκy attiгe аnd with almost any
    type of clothing. Believe it or not, makeup can alsο destгоy уour lοoκ.


    Feel free to visit my web-site :: flapper dress

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes! Finally something about top 10 dog.


    Look at my website - Check My Source

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very nice article. I certainly love this site. Keep it up!


    Here is my blog post :: NFL Jerseys Cheap

    ReplyDelete
  13. Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles?
    I mean, what you say is fundamental and all. However think about if
    you added some great graphics or video clips to give your posts more, "pop"!
    Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this site could certainly be one of the best in its field.
    Excellent blog!

    Feel free to visit my weblog :: golden retriever puppies

    ReplyDelete
  14. Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site
    and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.


    Feel free to visit my site: Michael Kors Handbags

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your style is really unique in comparison to other
    folks I've read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I'll just bookmark this blog.


    My web-site: Air Max Pas Cher

    ReplyDelete
  16. Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.

    Here is my blog post ... click for golden retriever lab mix puppy content

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's in fact very complicated in this full of activity life to listen news on Television, thus I only use the web for that reason, and take the hottest news.

    Review my homepage :: solavei

    ReplyDelete
  18. When I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments
    are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I receive four emails with the same comment.
    Perhaps there is a way you are able to remove me from that service?
    Kudos!

    Look into my blog post - assossocial.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ron, You should read this ebook.http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/3j476038

    ReplyDelete
  20. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

HOME

HOME
Click here to return to the US Slave Home Page