Independence of Haiti facts for kids
In 1789, a very important document called the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was created in France. It talked about people's rights. Just two years later, in 1791, enslaved Africans in a French colony called Saint-Domingue (which is now Haiti) started a huge fight for their freedom. This fight is known as the Haitian Revolution. They wanted to end slavery and French rule.
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Background of Haiti's Fight for Freedom
For over a thousand years, the island now known as Hispaniola was home to the Arawak and Taíno people. Then, Christopher Columbus arrived on the island on December 5, 1492. The name Haiti (or Hayti) comes from the original Taíno language. It means "land of high mountains," which describes the island well.
Saint-Domingue was a French colony on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It existed from 1659 to 1804.
Even before the big revolution, enslaved people tried to gain their freedom. For example, there was an uprising led by Padrejean in Saint-Domingue in 1676. Another important uprising was led by François Mackandal in 1757.
At the same time, big changes were happening in France. This was called the French Revolution. In 1791, King Louis XVI tried to escape with his family but failed. He was arrested in 1792. On September 21, France became a republic and got rid of the monarchy. The king lost all his titles.
The 1791 Slave Rebellion Begins
When news of the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen reached Saint-Domingue, it made the enslaved people want their rights even more.
On the night of August 14, 1791, enslaved people from plantations near Le Cap held a secret meeting. It was a ceremony in the woods. During this ceremony, Dutty Boukman and a priestess named Cécile Fatiman said that certain leaders would guide the revolution. These leaders included Georges Biassou, Jeannot, and Jean-François Papillon. Months later, they began to fight for their freedom. They rose up against the plantation owners who had enslaved them.
The Haitian Revolution: Fighting for Independence
Many brave generals fought in the Haitian Revolution. Some of them were Macaya, François Capois, Jean-Baptiste Belley, Magloire Ambroise, Nicolas Geffrard (general), and Étienne Élie Gerin.
Some of the important battles during the revolution included:
- Battle of Croix-des-Bouquets (March 22, 1792)
- Siege of Port-au-Prince (April 12–14, 1793)
- Battle of Cap-Français (1793) (June 20–22, 1793)
- Battle of the Acul (February 19, 1794)
- Battle of Saint-Raphaël (March 20–21, 1794)
- Battle of Gonaïves (April 29–May 5, 1794)
Étienne Maynaud de Bizefranc de Laveaux was the French Governor of Saint-Domingue from 1793 to 1796. The French government officially freed all enslaved people on February 4, 1794. News of this big change reached Saint-Domingue in May 1794. Governor Laveaux made sure this new law was followed. He also supported the important Black leader, Toussaint Louverture.
The revolution continued with more battles:
- War of Knives (1799 to 1800): This was a civil war within the revolution. It was fought between Toussaint Louverture, a Black former slave who controlled the north of Saint-Domingue, and André Rigaud, a mixed-race free person of color who controlled the south. They fought for control of the French colony.
- Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres (February 23, 1802)
- Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot (March 4 - March 24, 1802)
- Blockade of Saint-Domingue (June 18 – December 6, 1803)
- Action of 28 June 1803
- Battle of Vertières (November 18, 1803)
Haiti Declares Its Independence
The Haitian Declaration of Independence was announced on January 1, 1804. This happened in the city of Gonaïves. This declaration marked the end of the 13-year-long Haitian Revolution.
With this declaration, Haiti became the first independent Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. This was a huge moment in history.
Jean-Jacques Dessalines became the first leader of independent Haiti. He was Governor-General from 1804 to 1804, and then Emperor of Haiti from 1804 to 1806.
See also
- United States and the Haitian Revolution
- Armée Indigène
- Armistice of March 30, 1798
- End of slavery in Haiti
