The Road to Independence

1. 1802-1804 The Road to Independence

2. Recap • Toussaint captured • Capture caused worry and confusion • Deal between French and Rebel leaders • Dessalines, Christophe, Petion • Maroons continue to fight in the mountains • Colony returning to normalcy • Blacks return to plantations

3. Leclerc and the resistance • Leclerc was Napoleon’s brother in law • Arrived with 10,000 troops • Including Rigaud, Petion, Boyer • Violent methods to subdue rebels • Campaign of “terror” • Yellow fever • Plaguing French troops

4. Disarming the Rebels • Dessalines, Christophe with the French • Leclerc seeks to disarm the black rebels • Leclerc breaks with Mulatto leaders after Crete-a-Pierrot • Maroons keep fighting • North Sans-Souci • West- Lafortune • South Janvier Thomas

5. Dessalines and Belair • Charles Belair-nephew of Toussaint • Was politically like Toussaint • Saved many whites • Belair realized that the uncoordinated efforts of the rebels would not lead to victory • Joined the fight and proclaimed himself governor in chief of the rebels • Dessalines saw Belair as a threat to his power • Had him arrested and executed October 15, 1802

6. The coming of a unified resistance • Leclerc • Not trusted by Christophe, Dessalines • Slavery restored to French colonies in July 1802 • Rebels questioned whether or not they would be returned to slavery • Leclerc calls for additional troops • Clairveaux- Mulattos worried about return to the racism of old • Tactics of French united all sides

7. Mulattoes and Blacks • Dessalines comes to an accord with Petion • August 1802 • October 11, 1802 • Petion and Clairveaux attack Le Cap • October 14, 1802 Christophe joins fight • October 17,1802 Dessalines heads out to Petite Riviere. • Tells supporters to be ready to start another uprising • Avoids capture • In command of rebel forces. • North and the West in rebellion, Southern Mulattoes stay with French.

8. Leclerc and his forces • Leclerc sick with yellow fever • 34,000 troops sent by France • 24,000 dead from fighting or yellow fever. • 8000 in hospitals • 2000 fighting • November 2,1802 Leclerc dies of Yellow fever. • Rochambeau takes command • Receives 20,000 new troops from France

9. Rochambeau • Leads war against Blacks and Mulattoes • Race war. Whites vs People of color • Port Republican • War crimes • Drowned people in the bay of Le Cap • Violences of slavery return. • Dogs….

10. Rochambeau’s Letter to French Directory • “If France wishes to retain San Domingue it must sent 25,000 troops in order to kill 30,000 nergoes and negresses.

11. The French position • Whites preferred to live under Toussaint, but reluctantly joined French b/c of whiteness • As Rochambeau ran out of money he levied taxes on the whites who rebelled against him. • Blacks were thought not to be fighting for independence since they were fighting under French Flag

12. Women in the fight • While most of the writing on the Haitian revolution is about men, women fought too for their liberty. • Women were maroons • Marie Jeanne Lamarthinere famous woman soldier • Gran Toyat- Victoria Montou Dessalines aunt. • Taught him how to throw a knife and fight. • MarissainteDédé Brazil- Defile • Followed Dessaline’s army throughout the fight for independence • Gathered his remains after his death

13. More women • Claire Heureuse- Dessaline’s wife gathered women to help aid injured soldiers on the battlefield • Catherine Flon- Sewed the first Haitian flag • Sanite, Charles Belair’s wife fought alongside her husband • Lead uprising of slaves in Artibonite • Vive la libeteanbaesklavaj

14. 1803, The Final Push • Petion unites mulatto leaders behind Dessalines • Geffrard established Dessalines’ authority in the South January 1803 • Unified effort in North, West and South pushed the French into coastal towns. • War in Europe recommenced, British ships created a blockade of Haiti cutting off Rochambeau from reinforcements and supplies from France

15. Guerilla warfare • By Boat • Rebels used small boats that traveled around the coast and on rivers • They landed, hid ships and attacked French troops , took supplies and killed prisoners. • Captured two French ships that had escaped the blockade and killed all people on board

16. Dessalines: Koupetetboulekay. • Dessalines born 1758 • When did he join the fight? • Some say he was with Boukman at the beginning of the struggle • He might have been with Jeannot and then Biassou • By the time Toussaint went to the French Dessalines was with him. • Vicious attack on mulattoes in the civil war and Vicious against whites

17. The Fight Continues • May 18,1803-Archaie • Dessalines and Petion call meeting of senior officers. • Newly created flag was the French flag with out the white. • Haitians had control of Anse-a Veau, Jacmel, Saint Marc, and Cayes • Geffrard in command • Petion and Gabart in command of Artibonite • October 1, French surrender P-a-P

18. The Final Battle • November 16 1803, • Concerted efforts on Le Cap. • Dessalines camp, 27,000 fighters strong sets up camp at Limbe • Cap defended by forts • Dessalines ordered Christophe to attack them • Clairveaux, Capois La Mort- attack Butte Charrier-Horse story • Rochambeau • Move on to capture Vertiers

19. End of Fighting • November 28, 1803- Rochambeau surrenders troops to British • November 29- Dessalines issued initial proclamation of independence • French surrender Mole St. Nicolas in December • 64,000 French troops sent, few remained.

20. Independence • December 31,1803 • Dessalines called general meeting at Gonaives • Issued declaration of independence • January 1st 1804 Haiti is officially an independent country • Generals and chiefs of the army declare Dessalines supreme leader of the Haiti • Commander in Chief