Tomas really compresses the story of Haitian independence (it's not the point of the article). France DID try very hard to hold on to Haiti, whose sugar production was incredibly valuable, but it was difficult both in an era of French Revolution (how does slavery get justified vis-a-vis the Rights of Man?) and what was essentially the fi…
Tomas really compresses the story of Haitian independence (it's not the point of the article). France DID try very hard to hold on to Haiti, whose sugar production was incredibly valuable, but it was difficult both in an era of French Revolution (how does slavery get justified vis-a-vis the Rights of Man?) and what was essentially the first World War (French Revolutionary then later Napoleonic Wars). The war for independence was long and brutal, and as former slaves the Haitians found themselves in a position where NO ONE, including the US, was eager to see them free and successful. The peace treaty they finally signed with France was extremely punitive, requiring them to pay massive reparations to France for the loss of their sugar plantations. This had a crippling effect on Haiti's ability to establish itself economically.
Yes indeed. Haiti stands as the only really successful slave revolt in this part of the world, and as such embodied what the Southern slave states feared the most, in their darkest nightmares - all the white plantation owners were massacred. The good people of the US feared such a rebellion could spread. Haiti was therefore crushed socially and economically - especially by the US.
Tomas really compresses the story of Haitian independence (it's not the point of the article). France DID try very hard to hold on to Haiti, whose sugar production was incredibly valuable, but it was difficult both in an era of French Revolution (how does slavery get justified vis-a-vis the Rights of Man?) and what was essentially the first World War (French Revolutionary then later Napoleonic Wars). The war for independence was long and brutal, and as former slaves the Haitians found themselves in a position where NO ONE, including the US, was eager to see them free and successful. The peace treaty they finally signed with France was extremely punitive, requiring them to pay massive reparations to France for the loss of their sugar plantations. This had a crippling effect on Haiti's ability to establish itself economically.
As to the second part of your post, I doubt it.
Yes indeed. Haiti stands as the only really successful slave revolt in this part of the world, and as such embodied what the Southern slave states feared the most, in their darkest nightmares - all the white plantation owners were massacred. The good people of the US feared such a rebellion could spread. Haiti was therefore crushed socially and economically - especially by the US.