Fighting for Your Beliefs

People have fought, and continue to fight for their beliefs every day. Although some beliefs aren’t considered morally right, such as Hitler’s belief in a ‘perfect race’, Hitler still fought for this belief. Toussaint L'Ouverture and the people of Saint Domingue (known today as Haiti) which is the western ⅓ of the large Caribbean island of Hispaniola, fought for an end to slavery in Saint Domingue. Toussaint L'Ouverture was originally a slave who was freed by his owner. He played an important role in abolishing slavery in Saint Domingue. He was seen as a liberator of slaves, a military commander, and as the ruler of Saint Domingue. Toussaint L'Ouverture should be remembered primarily as a liberator of slaves and next as the ruler of Saint Domingue and a military leader.

Toussaint L'Ouverture should be remembered, most importantly as a liberator of slaves. At the beginning of the fight for freedom in Saint Domingue, “Toussaint joins the revolution and serves as a doctor to the troops; he also commands a small detachment of slave soldiers.” (A) Toussaint, who was a freed slave, joined the revolution to fight for freedom for the slaves. After Robespierre, the ruler of France at the time, abolishes slavery in Saint Domingue, “Toussaint and his troops stop their revolt and now support the French.” (A) It might seem that Toussaint is switching sides, but in reality, he is supporting whoever abolishes slavery. In this instance, France is supporting the abolition of slavery in Saint Domingue, so Toussaint supports the French. He supports whichever side his goals align with. After slavery is abolished in Saint Domingue, the French Directory replaces Robespierre, who had previously abolished slavery in Saint Domingue. There is now a fear that the French Directory will reinstate slavery in Saint Domingue. In response to this threat, Toussaint sends a letter to the French Directory. He tells the Directory that the people have experienced liberty and can’t go back into slavery. He then goes on to threaten France by saying, “We have known how to confront danger to our liberty, and we will know how to confront death to preserve it.” (B) Toussaint is threatening France and stating that if the freedom of the people of Saint Domingue is threatened, then the people will fight back, and that they already know how. He is working to keep the former slaves free. Everything else Toussaint did, as a military leader and as a ruler of Saint Domingue, was to preserve the freedom of the people in Saint Domingue. Toussaint’s most important role was his role as the liberator of slaves in Saint Domingue.

Toussaint should be remembered as a ruler of Saint Domingue. After defeating the British, Toussaint becomes the ruler of Saint Domingue. This is stated officially in The Saint Domingue Constitution of 1801: “Toussaint- L'Ouverture, Chief General of the army of Saint- Domingue and… he is entrusted the direction thereof for the remainder of his glorious life.” (C) This makes Toussaint the official ruler of Saint Domingue. Toussaint was part of the group that created the constitution, he was actually in charge of it. Part of the constitution states, “There cannot exist slaves in this territory… all men are born, live and die free and French.” (C) As ruler of Saint Domingue, Toussaint is able to make sure that slavery is abolished. He has accomplished what he has been fighting and working for. The constitution also addresses culture and commerce. Throughout this constitution, Toussaint is looking out for multiple aspects as to how Saint Domingue will develop without slavery. In the “Proclamation, 25 November 1801” Toussaint is creating laws and consequences for the people of Saint Domingue to abide by. He states, “As soon as a child can walk, he shall be employed on the plantation according to his strength in some useful work.” (D) He is making the point that everyone must work in order for Saint Domingue to succeed without slavery. He then continues and says, “Any individual… intending to incite sedition [actions against the authority of the nation] shall be brought before a [military court] and be punished in conformity with the law.” (D) Here,  he is stating that anyone who breaks the laws will be punished. One of his most common punishments for breaking the law is prison. In 1801, a revolt broke out in Saint Domingue. Some people believed that Toussaint’s labor policy was cruel and that he was becoming too friendly with the white planter class. In response to this revolt, in which the rebels massacred and whites that they came across, Toussaint “summoned certain men to step out of the ranks and blow their own brains out.” (E) Toussaint put down the revolution very quickly and showed that this behavior wasn’t allowed in Saint Domingue without consequences. He then took the rebel leader and had him “brought before a firing squad.” (E) Toussaint showed that there was no tolerance for law breakers in Saint Domingue, and that anyone who broke the law would be punished accordingly. Toussaint should be remembered secondly as a ruler of Saint Domingue.

Toussaint L'Ouverture should also be remembered as a military leader. At the beginning of the fight for freedom, Toussaint is a doctor and a commander of a small group of soldiers while fighting against the French. He trains his soldiers in both European style combat and guerrilla tactics. (A) European style combat is known as shoulder to shoulder combat, while guerrilla tactics is an ambush, then retreat style of warfare. He gains a reputation for teaching his soldiers both styles of war. As a commander, Toussaint is described, “His superior knowledge of the character of his race, his humanity, generosity, and courage, had gained the confidence of all whom he had under his command.” (F) Toussaint was a great military leader. Instead of controlling the people, he gained their trust. When the British attacked Saint Domingue because they were nervous about the idea of the abolition of slavery being adopted in their colony of Jamaica, Toussaint helped to defeat them and became the ruler of Saint Domingue. After this, when France tries to reinstate slavery in Saint Domingue, Toussaint is captured and sent back to France, where he dies, but, “Victorious over the French, a free Haiti declares independence.” (A) This independence was made possible by the military leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture. Toussaint is remembered as a military leader in Saint Domingue.

Toussaint L'Ouverture was a military leader and the ruler of Saint Domingue because he found it necessary to free slaves and preserve the freedom of the people of Saint Domingue. He should primarily be remembered as a liberator of slaves. Although he created The Saint Domingue Constitution of 1801 and was the ruler of Saint Domingue, he got to this position because he freed the people of Saint Domingue from slavery. Toussaint was also only a military leader when it was necessary to free, and preserve the freedom of the people of Saint Domingue. Overall, Toussaint L'Ouverture should most importantly be remembered as a liberator of slaves and next as the ruler of Saint Domingue, and then as a military commander.