Tousaint L’Overture Haitian Revolution, Research Paper Example

Arguably, Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture is revered as a pioneering hero of the Haitian republic and most importantly the internal dynamics of the sociopolitical undercurrents that culminated into the infamous Haitian Revolution. By this token, there is little doubt to ascribe to him the accolades that comes with military accomplishments of his day and age; with huge enormous resonating effects that permeated into the Americas and as far as to Europe. For the case of the former, Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture will can be named in the hall of fame along the lines of George Washington and of course given the political and historical parallels that dictated his times the former equate him to the legendary Napolean Bonaparte in terms of accomplishment. Indeed, this write will among other seek to conduct an exhaustive analysis into the internal dynamics of the real historical episode built around the character of this accomplished nationalist and in many ways how this played into dictating the currents of nationhood in both the apparent and inferential terms by the Haitian standard[1].

It is prudent to conduct a retrospective look at the major historical events that characterized the happenings in the Americas during the heydays of L’Ouveture. Doing so will serve as a defining paradigm meter that will usher in the discourse in a very coherent manner. Beginning in the eighteenth century, precisely in 1790 when major geopolitical movements were blowing the global landscape at a very profound speed principally among them included the massive state of uncertainty that engulfed continental Europe thanks in part to the reconstructive force that the famous French revolution was spearheading. Within that same period the United States emerged as the pioneering republican nation-state to emerge in the western hemisphere. It should be acknowledged that the significant input of the French revolution to the shift in global political gears was carried out by in a greater sum by the advent of the Declaration of the Rights of Man; enshrining the fundamental rights and equality within the institutions of government and social mainstream.

Just a few people during those times would have spared any thought for a moment that these developments in continental Europe would have any monumental impact on the changes that was to take place in the far away European colonial territories in the Caribbean such as Haiti. Nonetheless that turned out to be the case, in many ways thanks largely and paradoxically to Dominique L’Ouveture[2]. In reality Haiti, like most of the colonial territories of the Caribbean was not political conspicuous so much to warrant so much attention besides being acclaimed as a slave base—that is what the Haitian Revolution turned out to be. Judging by the fact that the resentment against slavery and imperialism was initiated, propagated, galvanized and even implemented by one of their own.

Superficially, the Revolution was going to be seen as a slave lead action proliferated in unison, but that proves not to be the case given that loyalty became sharply divided because of the rugged competition for it. Mind you, in times of uncertainty loyalty above all other things is a precious virtue that cannot be traded off for anything. The plantation farmers whilst keenly following the political undercurrents blazing back in continental Europe had no reason to suspect that a homegrown rebellion can take place right under their noses using the French pattern as a motivation. Rather ironically, the birth of the Republic in France came to the relief of the French people but in retrospect it becomes a question of scorn and disdain for the French plantation farmers in Haiti knowing that, the same Republic declaration that spelt out the freedom of their countrymen will become the basis for the fight for their legitimacy far away in the Atlantic.

Preceding the outrageous flow of massive rebellion staged by the black population of Haiti, there were reports of drones of slaves deserting their plantations. Indeed, besides the fact that earlier in this report, there was emphasis on the contributory role of externally motivated geopolitical factors involved with the French Revolution being a case in point, other subtle internally driven forces did play an integral role. It is worth stating that religion by every stroke of imagination remained a powerful force that influenced the social architecture of the black and colored people. Putting aside the imposed Christian dogma, the Haitian black population was known to be adherents of the voodoo pagan religion that traces its roots to western Africa.

Being so acutely conscious of the state of religious sensitivity, the revolution is known to have enjoyed the endorsement of the mainstream of a good number of the several sects within the Voodoo worship. It is reported that Boukman, a leading kingpin of the Petwo Voodoo sect oversaw a service in which a woman present at the service is alleged to have prophesied about the forthcoming revolution lead by the black populace. Toussaint was named among the individuals to lead the massive uprising that will eventually culminate into the overthrow of white oppression. The conditions under which the alleged prophesy was made is undeniably a pivotal factor in driving the message home. The woman is alleged to have made the prophesy under the influence and possession of one of the numerous warrior deities of the voodoo religion, she therefore spoke in that authority thus authenticating the message. In other words, the religious intonation of the revolution therefore can be attributed to this singular event with the firm belief in the minds of the black slaves that their actions was divinely sanctioned and they therefore had every obligation to ensure that this important page of the Haitian history is written and after all written with the tact that has become part of what is known today.

A markedly distinguishing feature between the Haitian Revolution on the one side and the American and French Revolutions on the other hand is that whilst each of these revolutions had a deep underpinning of an unrelenting thirst for liberty, the Haitian Revolution had the additional component of a deep seated desire to take revenge against their brutal slave masters. What did that mean? It naturally explains the rampage that served as an outlet for the display of their outrage against their slave masters. Thousands of acres of plantations were set ablaze without due consideration for the enormity of the economic loss that comes as a consequence. The few French farmers who were fortunate enough to escape the executions momentarily retreated to the coastal belts of the country.

Finally, to Dominique L’Ouveture flowing along the tides of the times consolidated his leadership over the Haitian nation by mapping out the most comprehensive military cum political strategy that sustained the flames of the revolution and eventually culminated into the freedom that was bequeathed to the island state. Above all, the most significant contribution by the L’Ouveter is expressed in the military discipline he initiated and coordinated throughout the entire struggle. It is also credited to his personality to say the least.

Reference List:

Adams Jerome R., Latin American Heroes: Liberators and Patriots from 1500 to the Present (New York: Ballantine Books; 1991), 23.

Allen John, An Inside View of Revolutions in Haiti, Current History. 1930 May.

Alexis, Stephen. Black Liberator: The Life of Toussaint Louverture (London: Ernest Benn Limited; 1949 ), 149.

[1] Alexis, Stephen. Black Liberator: The Life of Toussaint Louverture. London: Ernest Benn Limited; 1949

[2] Allen John, An Inside View of Revolutions in Haiti, Current History. 1930 May.