Throughout the late 18th and early 19th century, both France and Saint-Domingue experienced violent outbursts, which led to a revolution against their government. The French revolution officially started on July 14, 1789, when more than 800 Parisians stormed the Bastille demanding weapons and gunpowder believed to be stored there. The Bastille symbolized the voice of the people representing years of abuse by the monarchy. Liberal ideas of European revolutions inspired Latin America to take action. The natives were discontent in the social, racial, and political system in Saint-Domingue. This led to a revolt in 1791, marking the start of the Haitian Revolution. After the French surrendered, in January 1804, the island declared itself as an independent nation, renaming themselves as Haiti.
