Slave Revolution in the Caribbean, 1789-1804
A Brief History with DocumentsSecond Edition ©2017
ISBN:9781319049980
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ISBN:9781319048785
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Slave Revolution in the Caribbean tells the story of the slave revolutions that reconfigured the political geography of the Americas between 1789 and 1804 with a selection of primary sources across Atlantic, U.S., and Caribbean history. The collection explores the complexities of this era, now recognized as a crucial turning point in the history of slavery, racism, and the broader meaning of democracy and human rights. New documents include material from a 1757 poisoning case, a 1793 illustration depicting recently emancipated black fighters, and contemporary Vodou songs. These documents help students get closer to the experience of black revolutionaries. Additional support comes from document headnotes as well as a revised Chronology, Bibliography, and Questions for Consideration.
“This is the most succinct, convenient, and accurate history of the Haitian Revolution currently available. The authors have produced an intelligent and highly useful collection of documents, many virtually inaccessible, and conveniently translated them for the English-speaking audience. Their ability to contextualize the events of the revolution briefly is simply exemplary.”
— Franklin Knight, Johns Hopkins University“This is the most amazing document collection I have ever read. It is emotionally gripping, intellectually stimulating, morally provocative, action-packed, and full of points of comparison to histories of slavery and freedom everywhere.”
— Evan Haefeli, Tufts University
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Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Maps and Illustrations
PART ONE
Introduction: Revolution, Emancipation, and Independence
Major Revolutionary Figures and Groups
PART TWO
The Documents
1. The French Caribbean in the 18th Century
1. Macandal Saved!, 1758
2. Prophesies of Slave Revolution, 1771 and 1780
3. Médéric-Louis-Elie Moreau de Saint-Méry, Description . . . of the French Part of the Island of Saint-Domingue, 1797
2. The Revolution Begins
4. Letters from the Slave Revolt in Martinique, August-September 1789
5. The Free Citizens of Color, Address to the National Assembly, 1789
6. The National Assembly, Decree of March 8 and Instructions of March 28, 1790
7. Abbé Grégoire, Letter to Those Who Love Mankind, 1790.
8. Letters from the Uprising of Vincent Ogé, 1790
9. Julien Raimond, Observations on the Origin and Progression of the White Colonists’ Prejudice Against Men of Color, 1790
10. The National Assembly, Law on the Colonies, 1791
11. Mortals Are Equal, 1791
3. From Slave Revolution to Emancipation, 1791-1794
12. Hérard Dumesle, Voyage to the North of Haiti, 1824
13. Antoine Dalmas, History of the Revolution of Saint-Domingue, 1814
14. Pierre Mossut, Letter to the Marquis de Gallifet, September 16, 1791
15. Philadelphia General Advertiser, Reports from the Insurrection, October-November 1791
16. Jean-François and Biassou, Letters to the Commissioners, December 1791
17. Gros, In the Camps of the Insurgents, 1791
18. Olympe de Gouges, Preface to The Slavery of the Blacks, 1792
19. Jean-Paul Marat, From The Friend of the People, 1792
20. Thomas Clarkson, The True State of the Case, Respecting the Insurrection at St. Domingo, 1793
21. The National Assembly, Law of April 4, 1792
22. Journal Républicain de la Guadeloupe, Account of the Slave Revolt, April 24, 1793
23. Fougea, The Armed Nègre, 1792 or 1794
24. Laurent Jolicoeur, Petition, 1793
25. Légér Félicité Sonthonax, Decree of General Liberty, August 29, 1793
26. Pierre Jean L. Bouquet, Plunder of Cap Français, 1793
27. Insurgent Responses to Emancipation, 1793
28. The National Convention, The Abolition of Slavery, February 4, 1794
4. Defining Emancipation, 1794-1801
29. Victor Hugues, Proclamations, 1794
30. Geneviève Labothière Secures Her Brother’s Freedom, 1796-1801
31. The Plantation Policies of Étienne Polverel, 1794
32. Jean-Baptiste Belley, The True Colors of the Planters, or the System of the Hotel Massiac, Exposed by Gouli, 1795
33. Anne-Louis Girodet, Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Belley, 1798
34. Toussaint Louverture, A Refutation of Some Assertions in a Speech Pronounced in the Corps Législatif . . . by Vienot Vaublanc, 1797
35. Etienne Laveaux, A Celebration of the Anniversary of Abolition, 1798
5. The Haitian Revolution and the United States
36. Thomas Jefferson, Letters, 1797-1802
37. Refugees in Charleston, S.C., Petition, October 25, 1799
38. Charles Brockden Brown, St. Domingo, December 1804
6. War and Independence
39. Toussaint Louverture, From Constitution of the French Colony of Saint-Domingue, 1801
40. Lous Delgrès, Proclamation, 1802
41. General Jean-François-Xavier de Ménard, On the Final Stand of Delgrès, 1802
42. Napoléon Bonaparte and General Charles-Victor-Emmanuel Leclerc, Letters, 1802-1803
43. Mary Hassal, From Secret History; or the Horrors of St. Domingo, 1808
44. Marie-Rose Masson, Letter to the Marquis de Gallifet, July 27, 1802
45. Brigadier General Pierre Cangé, Letter to Delpech, November 1802
46. The Haitian Declaration of Independence, January 1, 1804
47. The Haitian Constitution, 1805
48. Vodou Songs about Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Since the 19th Century
APPENDIXES
A Chronology of Events Related to the Slave Revolution in the Caribbean (1635-1805)
Questions for Consideration
Selected Bibliography
Index
Authors
Laurent Dubois
John D. Garrigus
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