Toussaint's Role In The Events Leading To The Haitian Revolution

My thoughts on the events that lead to the Haitian revolution are that the slaves were indeed very brave and courageous to revolt, Toussaint being a very intellectual yet brash leader, Jean Jacques-Dessalines a very driven and almost as malicious as the slave masters/holders. The revolt was not only well orchestrated, but a long time in the making as the “slaves” didn’t deserve the treatment that they were receiving. For example, when the slaves’ wounds were rubbed with hot powder, it shows how cruel the slave masters were. Toussaint’s upbringing was that of unusual privilege as he was owned by a more lenient master, and thus learnt how to read and write, which was a crucial role in his leadership position. Toussaint’s role in society as one of higher class definitely helped him lead in a rebellion. …show more content…
The Voodoo Priest Dutty Boukman led a ceremony asking for blessings and power from their ancestors, then on August 22nd 1791, a thousand enslaved Africans attacked their masters, poisoning and cutting their masters were machetes. They were getting even, but as they were to be free, they must inflict the same amount of pain and suffering that their masters did on them. Toussaint’s reaction to this was to protect his master’s family, and a reasoning of this was that he wasn’t a slave per say, but was more of an servant and felt humanity so it was only right that he show the same to his master and his family. I feel that Toussaint’s upbringing was crucial to his leadership role in the revolution. Another tool that helped with the revolution was the mass influx of rebels coming in from France, a notable one being a revolutionary who was an abolitionist. A perfect fit for the county in a way as Toussaint needed someone like