Jean Jacques Dessalines had distinguished himself as the lieutenant of L’Ouverture since he joined the rebellion in 1791. When L’Ouverture was removed from office in 1802, Dessalines fought for the French in favor of them reconquering the colony. Although, “after Toussaint’s capture and deportation in 1802, Dessalines deemed that the war was now a revolution for total independence rather than colonial autonomy with emancipation.” (Twa). With this statement came the realization that in 1803 Napoleon declared he was going to reintroduce slavery in Saint Domingue, Dessalines and other black and mulatto leaders formed a rebellion in opposition to this plan. Therefore, in 1804 they managed to remove the French from the colony and Dessalines, as
