Omar Bennett
The Haitian Revolution, which began in 1791, was a movement against French colonial rule that sought to expand the aims of the French Revolution to cover universal human emancipation. This led to the creation of the first free black republic. On February 4, 1801, seven years after the abolition of slavery, Toussaint Louverture, the governor-general of the French colony of Saint-Domingue, convened a Constitutional Assembly to draft a constitution. This document, known as the 1801 Constitution, included a declaration stating, Here, all men are born, live, and die, free and French. Following this, on January 1, 1804, Dessalines, the new leader under the 1801 Constitution, proclaimed Haiti a new black state. The Haitian Declaration of Independence, written by Dessalines' secretary Louis Boisrond-Tonnerre, expressed the determination to live independently or die rather than be re-enslaved. The 1816 Haitian Constitution further reinforced these ideals by granting citizenship to anyone of African descent who came to reside in Haiti.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | 4 February 1801 |
| Writer | Toussaint Louverture |
| Position | Governor-general of the French colony of Saint-Domingue |
| Purpose | To write a constitution for Saint-Domingue |
| Attendees | Representatives from all of Saint-Domingue's departments |
| Religion | Catholicism was made the official religion |
| Independence | Declared loyalty to the French Republic |
| Freedom | "Here, all men are born, live, and die, free and French" |
| Slavery | "There can be no slaves on this territory; servitude has been forever abolished" |
| Leadership | Toussaint Louverture was named ruler for life |
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What You'll Learn
The Haitian Revolution
The revolution was sparked by a general slave revolt in August 1791, inspired by the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which declared all men free and equal. However, the declaration's ambiguity regarding the inclusion of women, slaves, and colonial citizens influenced the desire for freedom and equality in Saint-Domingue, the French colony that would later become Haiti. The Haitian Revolution was further fuelled by the frustrated aspirations of affranchis (free people of mixed or African descent), the brutality of slave owners, and the desire for independence from France.
The former slave Toussaint Louverture emerged as a key leader of the slave revolt and played a significant role in the Haitian Revolution. Louverture wrote a constitution for a new society in Saint-Domingue, which he called "To Live Free or Die," abolishing slavery and declaring loyalty to the French Republic. This constitution, written in 1801, marked a challenge to the construction of black citizenship based on slave emancipation.
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The Haitian Declaration of Independence
The Haitian declaration was significant because it marked the end of a revolution, unlike most revolutionary struggles before the mid-20th century. The primary motive behind this revolution was not independence but racial equality and emancipation. The declaration repeatedly alluded to "freedom from slavery", but there was no mention of "republican rights". As a result, the new nation under Dessalines became known as the l’État d’Haïti (The State of Haiti) instead of the Haitian Republic.
Dessalines' secretary Boisrond-Tonnerre was chosen to author the declaration. Boisrond-Tonnerre is said to have been chosen due to his statement:
> For our declaration of independence, we should have the skin of a white man for parchment, his skull for an inkwell, his blood for ink, and a bayonet for a pen!
Dessalines assigned all power to himself by taking the title "governor-general for life", which he later replaced with "emperor". His establishing of a de facto dictatorship was implied within the declaration text:
> Remember that I sacrificed everything to rally to your defense; family, children, fortune, and now I am rich only with your liberty; my name has become a horror to all those who want slavery.
The Haitian declaration tried to reassure foreign slave-holding states that the Haitian revolutionaries did not mean to threaten their colonies with slave rebellion. This statement was likely included to protect Haiti from retaliation from nearby colonial powers. Despite the claims in the Declaration, surrounding slave-holding colonial powers saw Haiti as a threat. The 1816 constitution of Haiti included an article granting citizenship to anyone of African descent who came to live in Haiti.
The Haitian Revolution began with a religious ceremony at Bois Caïman in 1791. The revolution against French colonial rule radicalised the spirit of the French Revolution by expanding its aims to cover universal human emancipation. It led to the first free black republic. The revolution and the subsequent declaration of independence were a route to emancipation and racial equality for black slaves, following the re-establishment of slavery in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
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The 1801 Constitution
The Haitian Constitution of 1801, also known as Toussaint Louverture's 1801 Constitution, was written in 1801 by Toussaint Louverture, the governor-general of the French colony of Saint-Domingue. The constitution declared loyalty to the French Republic and enshrined the principle of freedom and equality for all men, stating that "all men are born, live, and die, free and French."
The constitution was created in the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution, during which Louverture played a critical role in leading the fight for independence from France. The document reflected Louverture's thoughts and ideals, including his opposition to voodoo, with Catholicism established as the official religion. It also addressed the issue of slave emancipation, stating that "there can be no slaves on this territory; servitude has been forever abolished."
The Haitian Constitution of 1801 guaranteed individual freedom and safety, outlining that arrests could only be made with a formally expressed order from an authorised functionary. It protected property rights, stating that property is "sacred and inviolable," and emphasised the importance of uninterrupted labour and cultivation in the agricultural colony. The constitution also outlined the role of the governor, with Louverture named as the first governor, serving for life. It established a five-year term for future governors, with the possibility of extension for good administration.
Furthermore, the Haitian Constitution of 1801 addressed the introduction of cultivators to Saint-Domingue, charging the governor with encouraging and favouring the growth of planting. It stipulated that the commerce of the colony would consist solely of the exchange of goods and products from its territory, prohibiting the introduction of similar goods from other regions. The constitution also outlined the decision-making process, with laws proposed by the governor and rendered by the Central Assembly of Saint-Domingue, an assembly of inhabitants gathering at fixed periods.
Overall, the Haitian Constitution of 1801 was a significant document in the history of Haiti and the broader struggle for freedom and equality. It reflected Louverture's vision for the newly independent nation, aiming to transform racial slavery into black citizenship and shape a society based on order, purity, and the family.
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The 1816 Constitution
On January 1, 1804, Dessalines, the new leader under the 1801 Constitution, proclaimed Haiti a new black state in the name of the Haitian people. The Haitian Declaration of Independence, written by Dessalines' secretary Louis Boisrond-Tonnerre, expressed the desire for vengeance against the French White Creoles who had committed atrocities against the African-Haitian population. It also denounced any authority that subjected people to slavery, stating that such authority "must come to an end."
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The First Free Black Republic
The Haitian Revolution, which lasted from 1791 to 1804, was a pivotal moment in world history, as it led to the establishment of the first free Black republic in the world. The revolution began as a slave revolt and culminated in the defeat of the French, Spanish, and British colonial forces, resulting in the independence of Haiti and the abolition of slavery in the colony.
The revolution had its roots in the French Revolution of 1789, which proclaimed the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. These ideals inspired the Haitian slaves, who made up the majority of the colony's population, to demand their own freedom and rights. The slaves rose up in 1791, led by revolutionary leaders such as Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe.
By 1793, the slaves had gained control of the entire colony, and in 1794, the French National Convention abolished slavery in all French colonies. However, the fight for independence continued, as the former slaves now sought to break free from French rule altogether. Louverture, a former slave himself, played a crucial role in this struggle. He united the Haitian people and led them in a series of military campaigns against the French, eventually negotiating a treaty with the French in 1798 that granted autonomy to Saint-Domingue, as Haiti was then known.
However, Napoleon Bonaparte, the new French leader, refused to accept the loss of the lucrative colony and sent an expeditionary force to retake it in 1802. Louverture was captured and died in prison, but his lieutenants, including Dessalines and Christophe, continued the fight for independence. They defeated the French forces and on January 1, 1804, Dessalines proclaimed the independent Empire of Haiti, with himself as Emperor Jacques I. Thus, Haiti became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to gain independence through a successful slave revolution.
The new Haitian state faced significant challenges, including international isolation, economic instability, and the threat of invasion by neighboring powers. Nonetheless, it persevered and became a symbol of freedom and resistance for enslaved people worldwide. The Haitian Revolution sent shockwaves throughout the Americas, inspiring fear in slaveholders and hope in those who were oppressed. The country's constitution, adopted in 1805, guaranteed universal male suffrage and proclaimed that "all men are born, live, and die free," echoing the famous words of the revolutionary slogan "Live Free or Die."
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Frequently asked questions
The Haitian Constitution 'To Live Free or Die' was written in 1801.
The Haitian Constitution 'To Live Free or Die' was written by Toussaint Louverture.
The Haitian Constitution 'To Live Free or Die' was about the freedom and independence of the Haitian people from French colonial rule.
The key points of the Haitian Constitution 'To Live Free or Die' included the abolition of slavery, the declaration of Catholicism as the official religion, and the establishment of Louverture as the ruler for life.
The Haitian Constitution 'To Live Free or Die' had a significant impact on the country's history. It laid the foundation for the Haitian Revolution, which began in 1791, and eventually led to the independence of Haiti in 1804.
