How often is it that here of stories in history where a slave becomes a ruler? It's extremely rare, but Toussaint Louverture proves that it is possible. Toussaint Louverture was just your average slave on the island of Saint Domingue(Haiti). It became an extremely rich colony and produced 40% of the world's sugar and more than 50% of the world's coffee. This work was being done by the 500,000 slaves on the island. ( Background Essay )Toussaint was one of the slaves helping to make Saint Domingue an even more rich colony until he gained his freedom. Now Toussaint was a free men of color and he is known today for his role in leading the slaves in revolt and abolishing slavery in Saint Domingue. He was able to come from being an enslaved man, to being a doctor to troops and commanding a small group of slave soldiers in a slave revolt in the north. (Doc A) Then from there, France abolishes slavery and he supports France. Toussaint Louverture should be remembered for many reasons including his role as military commander, liberator of slaves, and ruler of Saint Domingue. However, I think it is most important that he should be remembered by his role as military commander because without his military skills, he wouldn't have been able to be the ruler of Saint Domingue or liberator of slaves.
Slave turned military commander of slave soldiers. When thinking of Louverture's legacy, it’s extremely important to remember that he was a good military commander and leader because without his military skills, he would have never have been recognized as a leader of the slaves or be seen as fit and receive his position of ruler of Saint Domingue. His great military skills can be seen when revolt breaks out on the night of October 29 in 1801. The revolt is against his now unpopular laborious requirements because they were much like the work that was being done by slavery before. Toussaint needed to get the situation under control as fast as he could and when passing through the rebel zone, he ordered rebels to commit suicide on the spot. Then, he ordered Moyse’s arrest who was supposed to be commander of all the Northern Department, but turned out to go against Toussaint. Moyse was then executed by firing squad.(Doc E) Louverture was able to get the whole thing under control and back to normal as fast as he could to keep the peace on his island.Also while being a military commander, Toussaint was able to drive out the English and the Spanish from the Island while raising the army’s reputation. When the French landed on the island trying to reinstate slavery under Napoleon Bonaparte, Toussaint makes the clever decisions to burn down their city as to not provide infrastructure to their army and to flee to the mountains because the people of Saint Domingue know the mountains better than anyone else. The French would be unfamiliar in the area. (Doc F) These were key events that lead to his success and contributed to his status of military commander which should be thought of when remembering Toussaint Louverture.
Aside from his role as military commander, Louverture should be remembered for being the liberator of the slaves. One thing that makes him a great leader for the saves is how he is consistantly fighting against slavery and for the slaves. Whether he is fighting with the French when they abolish slavery, or against the French trying to abolish slavery, he is always trying to stand up and fight for the slaves. (Doc A) Also, when it is feared that the French will try and reinstate slavery on the island, Toussaint send a letter to the French Directory letting them know that it will be impossible to reinstate slavery because they all know how bad slavery is and will refuse to be put back into their torturous positions as slaves. He sends this as a threat to basically say that they are ready to fight to the death for their freedom. (Doc B) He isn't getting scared and causing Saint Domingue to panic, but rather keeping them under control and motivating them to fight if need be. To add, when helping organize the constitution for Saint Domingue, Toussaint makes it clear in Article 3 that slavery cannot exist and is forever abolished, but they all live and die French. (Doc C)He was able to rise as a leader and knowing how awful it is to be a slave made him even more powerful. He should be remembered as a liberator of slaves because he lead an extremely important revolution that would inspire not just Saint Domingue, but other countries around the world.
Toussaint probably never imagined himself becoming a liberator of the slaves never mind the ruler of the new Saint Domingue once slavery has ended. Toussaint became the leader of Saint Domingue and should be remembered for what he did as a ruler. Though slaves don’t want to go back to working the way they used to, Toussaint is smart and makes the decision that they have to continue the work because agriculture is the only way the economy can thrive. However, now everyone gets to be rewarded for their work. He decides to have smaller plantations hoping the conditions will improve. (Doc C) However, his plan doesn't really go over too well because like I mentioned earlier, the slaves don’t want to go back to the same work they were doing before and now that they know they don’t have, they avoid it. In 1801 he makes a proclamation to enforce the provisions of the constitution where he states that everyone needs to work and be employed on a plantation. He also mentions that any individual takes action against the military, that they should be seen before a court martial and punished with the law. Another rule he enforces is that people cannot leave their plantation and take refuge in another or they will be denounced by the captain and spend one week in prison. Lastly, he says that vagabond cultivators, wanderers who refuse to work, will be arrested. (Doc D) When things get out of hand, Toussaint does just what he needs to do and enforces the law to keep the island running. It’s important to recognize him as having control of the island and in the end, wanting the best for his island which is why he keeps plantations. Louverture may not have been the most popular ruler at the time, but he was definitely doing is best and making smart decisions.
The Haitian Revolution would have been extremely different and may not have even happened or been successful without Toussaint Louverture. He took on three very important roles as military leader, liberator of slaves, and ruler of Saint Domingue. His successes are obvious. If anything, his legacy should be his great military skills and leadership. A man of so many accomplishments should not be forgotten. It’s people who step up like Toussaint Louverture whose legacy will live on years after their deaths.
Sources:
Background essay- from Toussaint Louverture Mini Q (2012 The DBQ Project)
Doc A- created from various sources
Doc B- Toussaint Louverture, "Letter to the French Directory, November 1797."
Doc C-The Saint Domingue Constitution of 1801.
Doc D- Toussaint Louverture, "Proclamation, 25 November 1801."
Doc E- Madison Smartt Bell, "Toussaint Louverture: A Biography, 2007.Doc F- William Wells Brown, " A Description of Toussaint Louverture," from The Black Men, his Antecendents, his Genius, and his Achievements , 2nd Additon 1864. Engraving of Toussaint Louverture, 1802.
uilzdsbfhkasdjk
ReplyDelete