Not only the best sourcebook on the topic available in english, but also an excellent model of research and interpretation. The slaves decide that upon a given signal, the plantations would be systematically set aflame, and a generalized slave insurrection set afoot. Slave revolts in the united states did not succeed, but the haitian example shows that their failure was not inevitable. The haitian revolution in the literary imagination. This photo is from the haitian revolution from this is a picture of a battle in saint domingue. Bibliography of works on the haitian revolution all the works listed in this bibliography are in my own library. I cant speak much for books on the haitian revolution, but i would highly recommend mike duncans revolutions podcast on the subject.
Domingue, but was also propelled by the free mulattoes who had long faced the trials of being denoted as semicitizens. Archives and special collections of richter library. Otts book has a basic outline of the revolution, but. In one way or another, all of the stories in brief encounters with che guevara deal. Although a central event in the history of the french in the new world, the full significance of the revolution has yet to be realized. It helps explain the fervor of expats whove chosen haiti as a second homeland. I didnt realize how much different the concept of slavery was in haiti then in the united states, in haiti it was cheaper to work to slaves the death then breed them. Starting in 1791, slaves throughout the french colony of saint. Most importantly, the ultimate effect of the haitian revolution was the independence of the people. Jan 15, 2010 over time this book becomes more and more important and meaningful. Although hundreds of rebellions occurred in the new world during the centuries of slavery, only the st. Laurent dubois eloquently tells the story of the haitian revolution, from the old regime to haitian independence in 1804. May 02, 2016 and if scholars today are more and more inclined to assume, appreciate, and investigate the impact of the haitian revolution on the making of the modern world, we might take this turn to haiti as evidence for the impact of c. It was the first independent latin american nation and the second independent country in the western hemisphere, after the united states.
Discover librarianselected research resources on haitian revolution from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The neglect of french historians from jules michelet to francois furet was shameful, as was the french governments failure to commemorate the bicentennial of haitian independence properly in 2004. The haitian revolution, as it is known today, was a great inspiration to slaves still in bondage throughout the americas, but it was devastating to. Why haiti should be at the centre of the age of revolution. Why was the haitian revolution successful essay example. As a unique example of successful black revolution, it became a crucial part of the political, philosophical, and cultural currenst of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Toussaint louverture was the leader of the haitian revoluti. Jamaica lies to the west and cuba to the northwest. This revolution set up the first black government in the western hemisphere and the worlds second democratic republic after the us. Jan 01, 2004 the haitian revolution did in fact shake to the core many of the dearly held assumptions of the 18th century in regard to the universal applicability of the ideals of freedom, equality, and aspirations of all men, notwithstanding their racial differences. Historicizing african contributions to the emancipation movement.
Stoddards book gives an excellent indepth overview of the revolution, but it has an obvious racist interpretation. The people of haiti managed to fight for the emancipation of slaves, as well as for the independence of haiti. The haitian revolution covers so many key aspects of global history at this point. Jan 26, 2010 haitis poverty has been much discussed since its massive earthquake, but little has been said of its rich, and equally fraught, history. Indeed, the period between 1750 and 1850 represented an age of spontaneous, interrelated revolutions, and events in saint 1 the bibliography on the haitian revolution is large and growing. On this small island, the tyrants were the slave owners, people who not only denied their slaves freedom, but felt justified in killing them. My main criticism is that the book is missing a reference list for further. This book examines all angles of the haitian revolution, can be a bit overwhelming.
Til president jefferson, a slaveholder, refused to recognize. This is a brief overview of the haitian revolution a short read of approximately an hour. Vodou, politics and revolution on the streets of haiti. If the haitian revolution didnt occur, then some revolutions might not have occurred because the haitian revolution showed the world that once you work together, you can succeed. The haitian revolution is important to world history in many ways. The main leaders were former slaves toussaint louverture and jeanjacques dessalines. I also highly recommend three books of primary source documents in english about the haitian revolution. It involved blacks, mulattoes, french, spanish, and british participantswith the. Haitian revolution cannot be separated from the wider concomitant events of the later eighteenthcentury atlantic world.
In 1791, the outbreak of the haitian revolution, at first localized in one district of the colonys northern plain, soon spawned waves of slave insurgencies that assembled and fought the horrors of oppression. The history seems accurate, but the small fonts make it difficult to read and enjoy the book. I knew that haiti was the only country that had a successful uprising of its slaves. It is bounded on the north by the atlantic ocean, on the south by the caribbean sea, and on the east by the dominican republic. The slaves decide that upon a given signal, the plantations would be systematically set aflame, and a. The people of haiti managed to fight for the emancipation of slaves, as well as for the. Examining twentiethcentury responses to the haitian revolution, philip kaisary offers a profound new reading of the representation of the revolution by radicals and conservatives alike in primary texts that span english, french, and spanish languages and that include poetry, drama, history, biography, fiction, and opera. Til president jefferson, a slaveholder, refused to. Inspired by the tell em what youre going to tell em, tell em, then tell em what you told em school of thought, chapter one sets the stage for the rest of the narrative by giving the reader a broad overview of the history of the haitian revolution. The haitian revolution led to the second nation in the americas after the united states formed from a european colony. Independence was the outcome of the extraordinary uprising of the colonys slaves.
The haitian revolution revolutions books book library. A stern and brilliant new book the haitian revolution, in all its ugliness and brutality, was the response of the oppressed, indentured and enslaved to their unjust condition. The revolution was actually a series of conflicts during the period 17911804 that involved shifting alliances of haitian slaves, affranchis, mulattoes, and colonists, as well as british and french army troops. And it is this whirling and chaotic world that dubois so vividly brings to life in avengers of the new world and so accurately deconstructs. The haitian revolution begins with the bois caiman ceremony. This book offers students a concise and clearly written overview of the events of the haitian revolution, from the slave uprising in the french. A concise history of the haitian revolution wiley online books. The story of the haitian revolution the haitian revolution. This reader includes beautifully written introductions and a fascinating array.
Ready to carry out their plans, the slaves meet in mornerouge to make final preparations and to give instructions. This is an outstanding book by a brilliant yet humble scholar. Haitian revolution in world history napoleon abandons idea of empire in the americas sells louisiana to the usa news spreads to the us rebellious slaves paranoid slave haitian government shelters simon bolivar, before his successful wars of independence toussaint louverture becomes a hero to millions striving for freedom. It was also one of the first modern nation that is governed by africans, and they opposed napoleons attempts to build a new world empire. Haiti, slavery, and the age of the democratic revolution. List of books and articles about haitian revolution. In a nutshell, the haitian revolution was one of the most successful slave revolts that has happened, and the country was the second free independent state in america. This book offers students a concise and clearly written overview of the events of the haitian revolution, from the slave uprising in the french colony of. The effects the revolution the revolution begins the slave revolt on january 1, 1804 the haitian act of independence was signed. That means that, at the time of the revolution, as many as 100,000 people or more out of a slave population of perhaps 500,000 had been in the colony for just a few years. The haitian revolution was the largest and most successful slave revolt in recorded history.
Through the struggle, the haitian people ultimately won independence from france and thereby became the. I believe i did this back in 1991, and if so i know i have added quite a few works since then, but i dont know the date of this bibliograhy, i just found it in my files. Haitian revolution 17911804, series of conflicts between haitian slaves, colonists, the armies of the british and french colonizers, and a number of other parties. The enlightenment and its effects on the haitian revolution. Gonaives governor governorgeneral haiti haitian haitian. The haitian revolution was a thirteenyear struggle between colored people and the white colonial authorities. Haitian revolution is considered to be one of the most successful antislavery rebellions in the western hemisphere. List of books and articles about haitian revolution online. Haitis poverty has been much discussed since its massive earthquake, but little has been said of its rich, and equally fraught, history. A landmark collection of documents by the fields leading scholar. For a long time, scholars lamented the forgetting of the haitian revolution. The haitian revolution 17911804 was a period of conflict in the french colony of saintdomingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the haitian republic. Season 4 of revolutions covers the haitian revolution in detail that fulfills your first side a wellnarrated overview of the revolution. Project muse the haitian revolution in the literary imagination.
In this collection of his writings and speeches, former haitian politician jeanbertrand aristide demonstrates louvertures profound contribution to the struggle for equality. Ben fountains top 10 books about haiti books the guardian. It created a significant event in history as haiti thenknown as saint domingue emerged as the second independent country in the americas, following us independence in 1783. The haitian revolution was a slave rebellion that began in 1791 in the french colony of saintdomingue, now known as haiti. For our fourth list, we asked marlene daut and john garrigus two experts in the haitian revolution to list the top five books they would suggest to graduate students or colleagues entering the field for the first time. Lessons from the haitian revolution global learning. Section one the revolution in a nutshell section two under development section three under development chapter summary. Examining twentiethcentury responses to the haitian revolution, philip kaisary offers a profound new reading of the representation of the revolution by radicals and conservatives alike in primary texts that span english, french, and spanish languages and that include poetry, drama, history, biography, fiction, and.
And if scholars today are more and more inclined to assume, appreciate, and investigate the impact of the haitian revolution on the making of the modern world, we might take this turn to haiti as evidence for the impact of c. Toussaint louverture was the leader of the haitian revolution in the late eighteenth century, in which slaves rebelled against their masters and established the first black republic. The revolution likely inspired a temporary increase in slave rebellions in the u. Slave revolts in the united states did not succeed, but the haitian example shows that. The haitian revolution was a slave revolt for the freedom of their people, resulting in haitis independence january emma wyman history. In the years before the haitian revolution, about 40,000 people were brought to the colony each year on slave ships. Historians of race relations in united states history have much to learn from the haitian revolution. Poetry of haitian independence is a magnificent accomplishment, overcoming the stigma of collective bovarism with erudition and grace to bring readers a wealth of largely unknown, often stirring poetry that sheds light on the cultural, historical, and political development of haiti following its 1804 independence.
The novelist chooses the books that best explain a fascinating, baffling. For more on the haitian revolution, i spoke with catos own jason kuznicki. Poetry of haitian independence yale university press. It is an entrancing piece of writing which pulls the reader seamlessly back and forth across the atlantic. Gegguss concise account of the revolution is clear, efficient, and remarkably free of the usual mythologies, hagiographies, and demonizations, while his excellently selected documents outline the story very well on their own. In january 1804, the once wealthy colony of saintdomingue declared its independence from france and adopted the amerindian name haiti. The revolt began on 22 august 1791, and ended in 1804 with the former colonys independence. Mar 10, 20 haitian revolution in world history napoleon abandons idea of empire in the americas sells louisiana to the usa news spreads to the us rebellious slaves paranoid slave haitian government shelters simon bolivar, before his successful wars of independence toussaint louverture becomes a hero to millions striving for freedom. The haitian revolution, 17911805, historicising african. Below you will find their lists, followed by brief descriptions culled from their book. Today in haitian history august 1791 saintdomingues northern slaves revolt against their masters. The haitian revolution was the result of a long struggle on the part of the slaves in the french colony of st. Home browse history caribbean and west indian history haitian revolution.
With the success of this revolution, haiti became the first free and independent nation state in the americas ruled by. Several factors precipitated the event, including the affranchis frustrations with a racist society, the french revolution, nationalistic. The haitian revolution was the forerunner of modern anticolonial movements in the third world. The french revolution of 1789 not only propelled all of europe into a war, but also touched off slave uprisings in the caribbean. Decolonization in africa and elsewhere helped to attract some attention to the haitian revolution in the i96os, and historians have begun to study the revolution as an event in the history of the moral imagination as well as a dramatic political episode with a wide influence. Ive read several books about haitian history and, in particular, about the revolution, but this one is. Through the struggle, the haitian people ultimately won independence from france and thereby became the first country to be founded by former slaves. The haitian revolution did in fact shake to the core many of the dearly held assumptions of the 18th century in regard to the universal applicability of the ideals of freedom, equality, and aspirations of all men, notwithstanding their racial differences. Dated during the 17911804 period, the haitian revolution is considered to be one of the most successful antislavery rebellions in the western hemisphere. The insurrection on the i sland of san domingo came from the mass of enslaved blacks in the french sugar plantation colony there, who risked everything to pursue freedom. Below you will find their lists, followed by brief descriptions culled from their book jackets. Haitian revolution toussaint louverture led this uprising, which in 1790 resulted in the successful overthrow of french colonial rule on this caribbean island.
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