LIFE AS AN ENSLAVED

The life of an enslaved person was hard. Here are some ways in which the
enslaved was badly treated:
 Overworked
 Severely punished- broken on the wheel, cut-off of limbs, badly beaten/
flogging, death
 Underfed- led to malnutrition and suffered from diseases
Poor and unsanitary living conditions
 Denied the right to have a family- family members were separated and sold
 Could not practice their religion and culture- beating drums, blowing horns
and more
 Could not own property
 Could not leave plantation without a pass from their master
THE WAYS THE ENSLAVED RESISTED
ENSLAVEMENT
• Destroying plantation tools and equipment
• Marooning- Running away from the plantation
• Pretending to be ill
• Working slowly
• Pretending to be stupid
• Dumb insolence- rude or disrespectful
• Arson- to plantation building and fields
• Practicing their culture when it was prohibited
• Revolt- fighting against the whites on the plantation.
• Purposefully getting pregnant
• Using the Menstruation cycle as an excuse not to work
• Taking long to wean children from breastfeeding.
• Poisoning the master
• Mocking the masters style of dress by dressing up like them and painting their faces white
• Killing livestock/ animals
• Picking fights with each other
SPANISH MARRONAGE (run away
slaves)
The slaves established independent communities mainly in the forest, caves,
unoccupied territories and mountains of the larger colonies.
They would normally have a chosen leader to rule
They grew their own food and often traded with other marroons.
The first runaways to set up their own communities were the Africans in Hispaniola
They intermarried with the Tainos and the Spanish called them Cimarrons (dweller
on the mountain top)
The Cimarrons became very powerful in Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Spanish
conquistadors eventually made a treaty in 1533 with the Cimarrons promising that
they will not attack, however, they must return any new run away back to the
plantation.
English JAMAICA’S MAROONS (first
war 1655)
English called run away slaves “Maroons”
The first Maroons in Jamaica escaped during the English attack in 1655.
Their numbers increased as other slaves would join them
Maroons practised GUERRILLA WARFARE ( sniping and ambushing from cliffs
and trees, using stone decoys, piling stones on cliffs and letting them loose on
the enemies).
 By 1730s Maroons had built permanent villages at Trelawaney Town,
Accompong, Crawford Town and Nanny Town.
The Assembly had a problem with the Maroons and sent troops to capture
and return these runaway slaves. This became known as the FIRST MAROON
WAR, which ended in 1739
JAMAICA MAROONS first
war(continuation)
An English treaty was signed similar to the Spanish Treaty that was signed with
the Cimarrons.
English Treaty stated
1. Captain Cudjoe, leader of the Trelawney Town Maroons had to stop raiding
their plantation.
2. They had to return any run away slaves
3. They had to help the English masters put down any revolt
4. Two English commissioners must live with the maroons.

 Soon after similar treaties were signed by the Fearsome Ashanti woman Leader
Nanny who was the sister of Cudjoe.
JAMAICA MAROONS (Second Maroon
War)
• In 1795 the Assembly sent a new commissioner called Captain Craskell
to live with the Maroons.
• Captain Craskell ordered two Maroons to be flogged for stealing pigs
from a planter.
• The Maroons didn’t have an issue with the punishment, however the
issue and revolt came about because an African overseer was given
task of punishing the Maroon.
• The Maroons ordered that Captain Craskell leave Trelawney Town,
which was objected by the Governor Lord Balcarres, because he feared
that, that might be encouraging them to lead a full-scale revolt.
JAMAICA MAROONS (Second Maroon
War)
continuation
• Balcarres sent troops to crush the Trelawney Town settlement. This lead
to the Second Maroon War. General Walpole tried to pin the Maroons
down. He sent for dogs from Cuba to help in tracking down the
Maroons. He also indicated that Maroons who surrendered in 10 days
would not be excuted or shipped off the island.
• The Jamaica’s Assembly overruled him and sent the latecomers to a
British settlement in Nova Scotia in Canada. The Government didn’t
want to pay for the upkeep and after 4 years they were sent to Sierra
Leone in Africa.
• After the Second Maroon War the Maroons villages and the Plantations
existed side by side
Maroons on the Guinea Coast
Maroons in the Guyanese colonies were just as successful, as those in
French, Dutch and British colonies.
Most of the colonies existed on the banks of rivers and on the coast.
The wet marshes and tangled jungle made excellent hiding places for
the Maroons to form their Free Villages. Because of where they built
the free villages they were called ‘BUSH NEGROES’.
The first runaway to set up a free village in Suriname was Lord
Willoughby. He came from a Barbados plantation.
The Bush Negroes would raid the Dutch plantations, forcing them to
send soldiers into the interior.
Maroons on the Guinea Coast
continuation
• In 1761 and 1767 the Dutch Governor made treaties with the two main
groups of Bush Negroes. The Treaties took the form of those created for
the Maroons in the Jamaica.
• The treaty gave freedom to the Bush Negroes in return for an agreement
to return any new runaways. The Bush Negroes must not raid the
plantations also.
• Other slaves started fleeing from the Dutch plantation and going to the
East of Guyana which bordered French Guiana.
• The Bush Negroes built circular homes and hid their home with fruit
trees, yam and plantains. They dug trenches around the perimeters and
filled it with pointed sticks to trap their enemies.
Reasons for the Success of the Maroons
villages/communities
• Geographical topography especially in the larger colonies
• The Maroon established well planned communities
• They became self-sufficient communities
• They established relationships with the Tainos and plantation owners
• They Practiced Guerilla warfare
• Maroon leaders were very effectives
• Read chapter 18 pages 129-135 and make additional notes.
HAITIAN REVOLUTION ( look at the
you tube video before reading the notes)
• https://www.google.com/search?
q=haitian+revolution+summary&rlz=1C1CHZN_enTT979TT979&sxsrf=
APwXEde8mOmzKkWq2H3rIqT0At_-
BAPVCA:1680095649285&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKE
wi_3_SCnIH-
AhVtTDABHRpbDwwQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1536&bih=656&dpr=
1.25#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:0562b7c1,vid:5A_o-nU5s2U
Haitian Revolution
• The French Caribbean colony of St Domingue comprised half of the island of
Hispaniola (originally Haiti). The Spanish occupied the East which was called
Santo Domingo and the French occupied the West which was called St
Domingue.
• St Domingue had the largest number of enslaved Africans and the most amount
of diversified plantations. (sugar, cotton, coffee and indigo)
• Most of the wealth was owned by the French people, however, the Free coloured
owned a great portion of the wealth also.
• The free coloured owned slaves and plantations however, they were not treated
the same like the whites. They were disliked by both the whites and the slaves.
• The free coloured were not allowed to join the military, wear European dresses,
play European games or meet and had celebrations.
Haitian Revolution
• MAIN CAUSES
The collapse of the French Monarchy
The large numbers of African slaves imported into St Domingue
The existence of a large mixed race
Intelligent and strong leaders (Toussaint L’Ouverture)
The extreme conditions in St Domingue
Collapse of the French Monarchy (1789)
• THE FIRST REASON
• In France the middle classes were becoming wealthier but thye had no political power.
They became upset of the incompetence of the Royal Government. Labourers and peasants
faced high taxs and rents, expensive food, and they were landless.
• In 1789, revolution broke out in France. As a result the French Royal Government became
bankrupted and the King and his regime was imprisoned.
• An ancient form of government took over France. They used the old method of running the
country with the nobility and the church having much privileges and controlled the wealth.
• Many people were upset, and with the help and support of workers in the street, the middle
class turned the ancient form of government/parliament into an NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
• 1790 The ASSEMBLY abolished the special privileges of the Church and the noblemen and
allowed each colony to make their own LAWS.
Collapse of the French Monarchy
• This revolutionary government held onto the WATCH WORDS
1. Equality
2. Fraternity
3. Liberty
The slaves in St Domingue thus had the belief that they were freed,
but the planters were opposing their freedom.
This thought fuel more resentment against the planters and created
revolutionary ideas in the enslaved minds.
The large numbers of African slaves imported into St Domingue

• THE SECOND REASON

• The second reason was the huge/large number of Africans in St
Domingue.
• St Domingue was at that time the wealthiest colony in the Caribbean.
• After the seven year war ended production increased even more as
trade resumed.
• The planters started importing in even larger numbers to keep up
production and profits.
• 1764-1771 between 10,000 and 15,000 slaves were brought in every
year.
The large numbers of African Slaves imported into St
Domingue
continuation
• By 1786 the numbers rose to 27,000 annually.
• 1787 more than 40,000 annually.
• Because of the amount of slaves in St Domingue it caused a
disproportion, whereby the blacks outnumbered the white and the
coloured.
• Because the majority of slaves in St Domingue were born in Africa
this caused a closer unity like never before.
•
The existence of a large mixed race
continuation

• THE THIRD REASON

• The mixed race/coloured played an important role in the Haitian
revolution
• The mixed race was disliked by the slaves and the white people,
simple because they wanted to have equals rights as the whites and
they felt that they were better than the enslaved
• With the Assembly being given the opportunity to makes laws in their
respected colony, the free coloured feared that the planters would
now pass even more laws that discriminated against them.
The existence of a large mixed race
continuation
• Vincent Oge a young coloured from St Domingue living in Paris asked the Assembly to give
the free coloured the opportunity to sit in the Assembly, however he was denied.
• Oge left France and stage a free coloured revolt against the planters. He was joined by only
a few free coloured and so their revolt was put down quickly. They were brutally executed.
• After the National Assembly heard of the revolt and agreed to allow persons of free
coloured the right to vote for members in the local Assembly, HOWEVER, the planters
refused this.
• The free coloured became very enraged and began to build up armies and some even gave
their slaves ammunition.
• The planters did the same by equipping their slaves with arms.
• This was considered a dangerous move by both the planters and the free coloured when
the internal war started between the free coloured and the whites
• It was this fighting that provided the opportunity for the slaves to take control
Intelligent and strong leaders (Toussaint L’Ouverture)

• FOURTH REASON
• Toussaint was a steward on his master’s plantation when Boukman, Jean Baptiste,
Gilles, Jean Francois and other general had started the revolt in 1791.
• Toussaint joined the revolt as a physician but quickly rose to be a leader of the United
French Revolutionary.
• Toussaint drove the English out of St Domingue, however another problem arose when
the Coloureds in South St Domingue wanted to set up their own republic area.
Toussaint quickly sent two of his generals Jacques Dessalines and Henn Christophe to
crush the move by the coloureds.
• The French government made Toussaint Governor General. Two years later Toussaint
invaded and conquered the once Spanish Santo Domingo. At that point France was
ruled by Napoleon Buonaparte a solider who made himself “Consul” and then
“Emperor” of France
Intelligent and strong leaders (Toussaint L’Ouverture)
continuation
• Napoleon intended to restore enslavement in St Domingue and give the plantations
back to their French owners. Toussaint knew Napoleon would send soldiers to take
over so he declared St Dominque an Independent country and declared himself
Governor for life.
• Toussaint’s government tried to rebuild the stability and prosperity of the nation by
sending the slaves back to the plantation to work long hard hour, in return for a
quarter of what they would have grown.
• 1803 Napoleon sent his brother in law general Leclerc with orders to remove
Toussaint, however the African were no match. Eventually Leclerc used trickery and
offered Dessaline and Christophe Pardon and a pension which they took. Toussaint
was invited to Leclerc for a conversation and Leclerc quickly arrested him. He was
shipped out to France where he was imprisoned and died in the late 1803.
The extreme conditions in St Domingue

• Largest number slaves

• Long and hard working hours
• Bad treatment
• Disunity among the free coloured and the whites
BREAK DOWN OF THE HAITAIN
REVOLUTION
• (Jamaican born) used his vodun ceremonies to spread their plans across the northern side of
St Domingue. His plan was that the slaves stop working until they are being paid as free
workers.
• The strike started quietly on 22 August on the Turpin Plantation led by Boukman. Other
enslaves joined the strike as they went by.
• Within two week the strike turned violent and the entire Northern side of St Domingue was
under fire. (houses and crops)
• The French government sent army led by Sonthonax to restore order in September 1792.
Sonthonax believed in the French Revolutionary watch words “LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND
FRATERNITY granted the enslaved emancipation in August 1793
• This enraged the coloured and white planters but he gained the support of the newly freed
slaves.
• The Haitian Revolution also enraged the English because they feared that revolutionary ideas
would be spread to their slaves also.
BREAK DOWN OF THE HAITAIN
REVOLUTION
continuation
• In 1793 England declared war on the Revolutionary Government in France and sent troops to assist the
French planters to regain control.
• The British had easy successes in Martinique, Guadeloupe and St Lucia.
• The French revolutionary Government counter attack the British in these islands and joined with the
slaves and declared that the slaves are now free. They eventually regained control of the three islands.
• The British then joined the Spanish in1793 to take control of St Domingue. The British Entered St
Domingue from the South and the Spanish entered from the East. They were very successful for the
first few months. By March they had controlled the entire South area and was making plans to move
North to assist the Spanish, however, they needed more troop from Jamaica but Jamaica was going
through their SECOND MAROON WAR therefore no troops came.
• Britain sent troops to St Domingue, however, they were not seasoned in the Caribbean and they
quickly died out by the thousands from yellow fever.
• Britain ended up in further problems when they lost their allied Spain who made peace with France
and handed over Santo Domingo to France.
• Toussaint and his regime eventually drove England out of St Domingue.
BREAK DOWN OF THE HAITIAN
REVOLUTION
continuation
• Toussaint drove the English out of St Domingue, however another
problem arose when the Coloureds in South St Domingue wanted to
set up their own republic area. Toussaint quickly sent two of his
generals Jacques Dessalines and Henn Christophe to crush the move
by the coloureds.
• The French government made Toussaint Governor General. Two years
later Toussaint invaded and conquered the once Spanish Santo
Domingo. At that point France was ruled by Napoleon Buonaparte a
solider who made himself “Consul” and then “Emperor” of France
BREAK DOWN OF THE HAITIAN
REVOLUTION
continuation
• Napoleon intended to restore enslavement in St Domingue and give the plantations
back to their French owners. Toussaint knew Napoleon would send soldiers to take
over so he declared St Dominque an Independent country and declared himself
Governor for life.
• Toussaint’s government tried to rebuild the stability and prosperity of the nation by
sending the slaves back to the plantation to work long hard hour, in return for a
quarter of what they would have grown.
• 1803 Napoleon sent his brother in law general Leclerc with orders to remove
Toussaint, however the African were no match. Eventually Leclerc used trickery and
offered Dessaline and Christophe Pardon and a pension which they took. Toussaint
was invited to Leclerc for a conversation and Leclerc quickly arrested him. He was
shipped out to France where he was imprisoned and died in the late 1803.
BREAK DOWN OF THE HAITIAN
REVOLUTION
continuation
• Dessaline and Christophe abandoned LeClerc after they heard slavery was going to
restored and went into the hills.
• Le Clerc found it difficult to defeat the Africans because they didn’t know the trails
through the mountains and also the knew soldiers that came from France died out just
like the English from yellow fever by the thousands.
• August 1803 Le Clerc died. A replaced was sent, however, he found it difficult to defeat
the African and rather surrendered to the British in Jamaica.
• 1804 General Jean- Jacques Dessaline declared the colony INDEPENDENT and called it
Haiti (Taino word for mountain) Haiti became the FIRST INDEPENDENT Caribbean colony
and the FIRST BLACK RULED STATE outside of Africa.
• 1844 the Spanish-speaking half of the island became the Independent Dominican
Republic.
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE HAITAIN
REVOLUTION
• Free mixed race and the slaves wanted equality as was given to the
higher classes in France
• The Revolutionary Government in France watch words: LIBERTY,
EQUALITY AND FRATERNITY
• Disunity among the free coloured and the planters
• Strong leadership
IMPACT OF THE HAITAIN
REVOLUTION ON HAITI AND THE
WIDER CARIBBEAN
• It led to a complete abolition of slavery in Haiti
• It brought about the emergence of strong leaders such as: Boukman, Dutty, Dessaline, Toussaint and
others.
• It changed Haiti’s economic status:
1. The country’s infrastructure, such as roads, harbours and bridges was destroyed
2. Sugar production declined drastically
3. It led to an exodus of white people from the island, carrying with them their capital, technology and
skills.
• There was an Increase in production in some other Caribbean countries e,g Cuba and Jamaica’s Coffee
markets increased
• The relationship among Africans, free coloured and whites got worse
• The spread of revolutionary ideas travelled to the British colonies.
• Abolitionist used the Haitian revolution as justification for emancipation
• It served as inspiration to the other enslaved population and created fear among the planters.
• Read pages 139-142 and makes additional notes if necessary