Enlightenment ideas not only effected the French revolution but they also had a great affect on the Haitian revolution. More than half of the Haitian population was slaves. And ideas were spreading about freedom and liberty. The slaves would hear news of the french revolution from the french sailors at the docks. The new ideas of freedom inspired them. These idea gave them hope that France would give them freedom. The slaves of Haiti grew tired of waiting for France to abolish slavery but France finally abolished slavery. But their freedom was being questioned by invading Spanish and British forces that might reinstall slavey. The newly freed slaves had to fight and they found their leader in Toussant, a former slave himself. A man who once knew the pain of being oppressed. The slaves needed a leader who had the same enlightenment ideas embedded in them. These enlightenment ideas were so strong in the slaves that it forced them to fight for what they believe in. They had to fight for their freedom because someone was taking it away from them. The enlightenment ideas would not fade away either. When Toussant was arrested and Leclerc took the arms of the slaves away, they rebelled. They feared that their freedom would be taken away again so they fought back the French. The haitian revolution was able to happen because of enlightenment ideas. They gave the slaves something to fight for even if was against all odds. It was because of that determination that the Haitian revolution was able to be the first successful slave revolt in history.
Link for picture:http://www2.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs/cur/Baker_00/2002-p4/baker_p4_12-01_db/images/ouverture.1.gif
Information on enlightenment ideas:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment
pretty bad writing
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