The Haitian Revolution - Documentary (2009)

Haiti's Independence Toussaint’s lieutenant, Jean-Jacques Dessalines

(zhahn*ZHAHK daysah-LEEN), took up the fight for freedom. On January

1, 1804, General Dessalines declared the colony an independent country. It

was the first black colony to free itself from European control. Dessalines

called the country Haiti, which in the language of the Arawak natives meant

“mountainous land.”

Creoles Lead Independence

Even though they could not hold high public office, creoles were the least

oppressed of those born in Latin America. They were also the best educated.

In fact, many wealthy young creoles traveled to Europe for their education.

In Europe, they read about and adopted Enlightenment ideas. When they

returned to Latin America, they brought ideas of revolution with them.

Napoleon’s conquest of Spain in 1808 triggered revolts in the Spanish

colonies. Removing Spain’s King Ferdinand VII, Napoleon made his brother

Joseph king of Spain. Many creoles might have supported a Spanish king.

However, they felt no loyalty to a king imposed by the French. Creoles, recall-

ing Locke’s idea of the consent of the governed, argued that when the real king

was removed, power shifted to the people. In 1810, rebellion broke out in sev-

eral parts of Latin America. The drive toward independence had begun. A,

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