Haitian Revolution

The Haitian Revolution began in 1791 in the French colony of Saint Domingue, when a group of slaves rebelled in order to secure their freedom and the end of slavery. In the midst of the French Revolution, slaves took advantage of volatile political, racial, and social circumstances. With legendary leaders like Toussaint Louverture, they eventually defeated Napoleon’s France to form the independent nation of Haiti. The Haitian Revolution had both global causes and consequences.

In this sweeping history, leading Haitian intellectual Jean Casimir argues that the story of Haiti should not begin with the usual image of Saint-Domingue as the richest colony of the 18th century. Rather, it begins with a reconstruction of how individuals from Africa, in the midst of the golden age of imperialism, created a sovereign society based on political imagination and a radical rejection of the colonial order, persisting even through the US occupation in 1915.

Experience an epic historical revolution where an enslaved populace shatters a brutal empire to forge a free republic. Perfect for an engaging daily commute, this immersive narrative drops you directly onto the turbulent plantations and rebel camps of 18th-century Saint Domingue. Feel the...

The first and only successful slave revolution in the Americas began in 1791 when thousands of brutally exploited slaves rose up against their masters on Saint-Domingue, the most profitable colony in the 18th-century Atlantic world. Within a few years, the slave insurgents forced the French administrators of the colony to emancipate them, a decision ratified by revolutionary Paris in 1794. This victory was a stunning challenge to the order of master/slave relations throughout the Americas, including the Southern United States.

This book serves as a crucial and powerful correction to the often-misrepresented history of the Haitian Revolution. For too long, the narrative surrounding Haiti’s struggle for freedom has been crafted by the very colonizers who were overthrown by the enslaved population—those who falsely depicted themselves as invincible. In truth, the Haitian Revolution not only abolished slavery in Haiti but also proved to the world that colonial powers could indeed be defeated. One of the major revelations in this book is the correction of the manipulated timeline of the Haitian Revolution. It ...

The Haitian Revolution was a slave rebellion that began in 1791 in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, now known as Haiti. On this small island, the tyrants were the slave owners, people who not only denied their slaves freedom, but felt justified in killing them. The Haitian Revolution began to change the way slaves were viewed all over the world.

FINALIST FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE WINNER OF THE JAMES TAIT BLACK MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY The essential biography of the controversial rebel, traitor, and only king of Haiti. Henry Christophe is one of the most richly complex figures in the history of the Americas, and was, in...

Haitian Vodou by Monique Joiner Siedlak explores this rich Haitian tradition beginning with a look at Haitian history and how the tradition known as Haitian vodou evolved. She then moves on to cover the basic principles and ethics of Haitian vodou. Her fascinating work also includes a discussion of common confusions and controversies associated with Haitian vodou as well as a discussion of Haitian vodou today.

Enthralling History offers a vivid dive into the revolutionary turmoil that changed the world. Discover the fiery spirit of a nation forged in rebellion and the heroes who led the charge toward freedom.

Dive into the gripping history of the only successful slave revolt to shatter an empire and forge a free Black republic. Perfect for your daily commute, this dramatic narrative transforms a brutal sugar plantation society into an inspiring battlefield for racial justice. Listen as enslaved...

The Haitian Revolution: The History and Legacy of the Slave Uprising that Led to Haiti’s Independence chronicles how the only successful slave uprising came about, and why it ended French control of the island. You will learn about the revolution like never before.

It is impossible to imagine New Orleans, and by extension American history, without the vibrant and singular Creole culture. In the face of an oppressive white society, members of the Société d’Economie et d’Assistance Mutuelle built a community and held it together through the era of slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow terrorism. Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood follows Ludger Boguille, his family, and friends through landmark events that shaped New Orleans and the United States.

This powerful, intensely dramatic book is the definitive account of the Haitian Revolution of 1794-1803. It is the story of the French colony of San Domingo, a place where the brutality of master toward slave was commonplace and ingeniously refined. And it is the story of a barely literate slave named Toussaint L'Ouverture, who led the black people of San Domingo in a successful struggle against successive invasions by overwhelming French, Spanish, and English forces and, in the process, helped form the first independent nation in the Caribbean. 

Haiti is not poor. That claim may sound provocative, but it is the truth. Haiti is a land rich in natural beauty, fertile soil, renewable energy, and a revolutionary history unlike any other in the Americas. What holds it back is not poverty, but forgetfulness. We have forgotten our resources, our resilience, and our responsibility. We import food though our land is fertile. We endure blackouts though the sun, wind, and rivers surround us. We celebrate our diaspora’s success abroad while our institutions collapse at home. This book is not a cry for pity. it is a call for accountability. ...

Step into a gripping historical narrative of Caribbean resistance and the only successful mass slave revolt in the world. Ideal for an immersive commute, this intense account transports you directly to the volatile sugar plantations of Saint-Domingue. Witness how captive men and women shattered...

The Easiest and Fastest Way to Learn Haitian Creole With Pimsleur you’ll become conversational in Haitian Creole — to understand and be understood — quickly and effectively. You’ll learn vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation together through conversation. And our scientifically proven...

Uncover a defining chapter of Black history in this gripping true story of the world's most successful slave rebellion. Whether you are commuting, studying, or seeking an empowering narrative, this tense and educational journey transports you directly to the brutal sugar plantations of colonial...

On January 12, 2010, a major earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of people died, and the greater part of the capital was demolished. Dr. Paul Farmer, U.N. deputy special envoy to Haiti, who had worked in the country for nearly thirty years treating infectious diseases like tuberculosis and AIDS, and former President Bill Clinton, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, had just begun to work on an extensive development plan to improve living conditions in Haiti.

The untold story of revolution, empire, and the birth of the world’s first Black republic. Most people think they know Haiti. They know the earthquakes, the poverty, the political turmoil, the headlines. What they don’t know is that Haiti holds one of the most remarkable stories ever told. Long before Columbus landed in 1492, the island its people called Ayiti had already been home to thriving civilizations for more than five thousand years. Then came conquest, slavery, and a revolution so shocking it terrified empires across the globe. Against impossible odds, enslaved men and women ...

Award-winning author Edwidge Danticat edits this collection of stories that puts a noir twist on the Haitian experience. From kidnappings gone wrong to deadly sibling rivalries, Haiti Noir features some of the Caribbean nation’s leading voices, including Gary Victor, Evelyne Trouillot, Kettly Mars, and Patrick Sylvain.