One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. - Harry’s Game: a novel by Gerald Seymour
Introduction
Crucial to understanding the differences between the northern and southern United States on the brink of the Civil War is the institution of slavery. From the earliest moments of southern history, slavery had become a normal part of southern society, and southern politicians were always on the defense of what they considered habitual. However, this defense did not start off in an aggressive fashion. It was not until the conflict surrounding the Missouri Compromise did southerners suddenly turn the tides, becoming more aggressive in their defense of what most considered a part of southern life. Because southerners realized their …show more content…
This can be partially attributed to the success of paternalism, which was not always successful. Nevertheless, slave revolts were still a prominent threat in the south, and more or less played a large impact on southern identity. It is here that we examine the first major slave revolt to truly impact the south: the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian Revolution, while not in the United States, was waged from 1791-1804 and is one of the only successful mass slave revolts in history, making its impact on southern history significant. Possession of the island of Hispaniola was originally in the hands of the Spanish, following the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Under Spanish rule, the island became prosperous in sugar plantations as well as becoming rife with feral pigs, cattle and other domesticated animals. It was under the Spanish that the island became a boon for pirates; specifically French pirates who began to encroach upon the western portion of the island. It was from their base on Tortuga that the French raided Spanish fleets and further encroached on Santo Domingo, until possession of the island transferred to the French following a brief war that saw the French victorious. It was under the French that the economy of the island truly developed, the colony’s economy booming in such products as sugar, tobacco, and …show more content…
L’Ouverture was able to turn on his allies, the Spanish, and succeed in expelling the European invaders. This officially made him the undisputed leader of the entire island by 1801. Unfortunately, L’Ouverture’s rise to power was accompanied by the ascension of Napoleon Bonaparte back in France, who sent 21,175 elite troops, led by his brother-in-law and skilled commander, General Charles Victor Emmanuel Le Clerc, to retake the island. When Le Clerc arrived, L’Ouverture agreed to retire in return for the independence of Saint Dominique. Following this agreement, L’Ouverture was arrested and sent back to France in iron chains. This act of treachery inflamed the rebels of the colony who fought back against the French, who were weakened by disease, with a greater passion to eventually gain their independence in January 1804 as the new nation of
Introduction
Crucial to understanding the differences between the northern and southern United States on the brink of the Civil War is the institution of slavery. From the earliest moments of southern history, slavery had become a normal part of southern society, and southern politicians were always on the defense of what they considered habitual. However, this defense did not start off in an aggressive fashion. It was not until the conflict surrounding the Missouri Compromise did southerners suddenly turn the tides, becoming more aggressive in their defense of what most considered a part of southern life. Because southerners realized their …show more content…
This can be partially attributed to the success of paternalism, which was not always successful. Nevertheless, slave revolts were still a prominent threat in the south, and more or less played a large impact on southern identity. It is here that we examine the first major slave revolt to truly impact the south: the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian Revolution, while not in the United States, was waged from 1791-1804 and is one of the only successful mass slave revolts in history, making its impact on southern history significant. Possession of the island of Hispaniola was originally in the hands of the Spanish, following the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Under Spanish rule, the island became prosperous in sugar plantations as well as becoming rife with feral pigs, cattle and other domesticated animals. It was under the Spanish that the island became a boon for pirates; specifically French pirates who began to encroach upon the western portion of the island. It was from their base on Tortuga that the French raided Spanish fleets and further encroached on Santo Domingo, until possession of the island transferred to the French following a brief war that saw the French victorious. It was under the French that the economy of the island truly developed, the colony’s economy booming in such products as sugar, tobacco, and …show more content…
L’Ouverture was able to turn on his allies, the Spanish, and succeed in expelling the European invaders. This officially made him the undisputed leader of the entire island by 1801. Unfortunately, L’Ouverture’s rise to power was accompanied by the ascension of Napoleon Bonaparte back in France, who sent 21,175 elite troops, led by his brother-in-law and skilled commander, General Charles Victor Emmanuel Le Clerc, to retake the island. When Le Clerc arrived, L’Ouverture agreed to retire in return for the independence of Saint Dominique. Following this agreement, L’Ouverture was arrested and sent back to France in iron chains. This act of treachery inflamed the rebels of the colony who fought back against the French, who were weakened by disease, with a greater passion to eventually gain their independence in January 1804 as the new nation of