Call to Freedom It is important to note that not every plantation experienced a rebellion. This can be partially attributed to the success of paternalism, but this was not always successful in creating a harmonious relationship between the master and his slaves. Nevertheless, slave revolts still presented 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 on the island of Hispaniola and is one of the only successful mass slave revolts in history. The mere success of the revolt makes its focus on southern history
…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 yield in return for the independence of Saint Dominique. However, 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 …show more content…
Influence for the ideals behind the revolt came primarily from the French Revolution, but also from the Haitian Revolution that was taking place at the same time. Prosser planned to march on Richmond, under a flag that read “Death of Liberty,” where the group of thirty to forty slaves would seize the city’s stores of arms and force the leaders of the city to free the slaves as well as distribute money from the treasury among the rebels. It was never Gabriel’s hope to count solely on African American slaves for support; rather he was additionally expecting aid from poor whites. Ironically, it would be the African American slave who eventually caused Prosser the most
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 yield in return for the independence of Saint Dominique. However, 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 …show more content…
Influence for the ideals behind the revolt came primarily from the French Revolution, but also from the Haitian Revolution that was taking place at the same time. Prosser planned to march on Richmond, under a flag that read “Death of Liberty,” where the group of thirty to forty slaves would seize the city’s stores of arms and force the leaders of the city to free the slaves as well as distribute money from the treasury among the rebels. It was never Gabriel’s hope to count solely on African American slaves for support; rather he was additionally expecting aid from poor whites. Ironically, it would be the African American slave who eventually caused Prosser the most