THE WORLD SINCE 1492

Metropole (France)

Year

St. Domingue (Haiti)
Noble Revolt (1787-89):   Nobles force the King to convene the Estates General on 5 May 1789, but oppose reorganization of Estates General as National Assembly.

1787
Constitutional Monarchy (1789-1792): Moderate bourgeoisie allied with moderate nobility are politically dominant; they defend property rights and economic liberty.
     Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is issued on 26 August 1789.
     The Assembly limits political rights to so-called "active citizens" (property owners) as opposed to "passive citizens" (the poor).
     King encourages other European monarchs to invade France and restore his rule, and monarchy falls in August 1792.		 1789

 

 

1790

1791

      Six St. Domingue planters seated in National Assembly; the question of how many representatives will be seated from St. Domingue raises the question of slavery.

 

      Freedmen of color rebel because of failure of Assembly to grant them political rights.
      From August 1791, widespread uprising of enslaved persons and increasing prominence of Toussaint L'Ouverture.

1792      After April declaration of political rights for freemen of color, whites and mulattos form an alliance against the slave uprising. In September, Sonthonax arrives with 6,000 troops to establish order in St. Domingue. News of the fall of the monarchy reaches St. Domingue in October, and whites again split into warring parties.
Radical Republic (Aug. 1792-1794):  Radical bourgeoisie allied with urban poor are politically dominant.
    Louis XVI is decapitated on 21 January 1793. The state establishes price controls and uses "terror" (any means) to govern. All metropolitan adult males are made citizens. 		1792


1793

 

1794

  


Toussaint receives support from Spain, and leads large army of former slaves in successful campaigns against French control over St. Domingue. White colonists encourage British invasion to restore "order" and "property."

Reactionary Republic (1794-1799): Moderate bourgeoisie regains control of the state. The state wages war of conquest in Europe, strengthens economic liberties and again deems the poor "passive citizens." 1794

 
Napoleonic Dictatorship (1799-1815): Moderate bourgeoisie still dominates the state, but uses military dictatorship to establish order.

In 1802, Napoleon sends an expedition, led by his brother-in-law, General Leclerc, to end Toussaint L'Ouverture's control over St. Domingue and restore slavery.

1799

 


1802

  

 

Napoleon send an expedition to arrest Toussaint and restore slavery. War of Independence fought under leadership of Dessalines, Christophe and Petion.

1803 Toussaint dies in prison in France on 7 April.
1804 Haiti gains independence by defeating French forces.
Dictatorship ends following 3 years of military defeats in Europe. 1815