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Bastille is Stormed
The Bastille fortress in Paris is stormed and taken by the people of Paris. It is a turning point in the French Revolution -
Demand for Equal rights
A mixed race delegation asks Saint Domingue whites for equal rights and is refused -
Constituent Assembly Debate
in April The Constituent Assembly in Paris debates the rights of the Mixed Race people and decides that every mixed race person with 2 free parents should be given the right to vote. This concern only 400 people in Saint Domingue -
French Soldiers !
In March 2 regiments of French soldiers are sent to help the governor to maintain order. The soldiers sides with the mixed race group and the African slaves, telling them that all men are equal and free -
Dutty Boukman
Dutty Boukman, a Vodun Priest in the Caiman wood ceremony encourages thousands of slaves to revolt. Slave gangs starts to murder their masters and set fire to Plantations. They take control of the countryside but not the capital. -
Toussaint Joins the Revolution
In September Toussaint L'Ouverture joins the fight for the Revolution -
The concordat
An agreement is signed between the Royalist commander, the rich whites and the mixed race group. The terms are : full equal rights for all the mixed race. Two bataillon of soldiers to be raised from the mixed race group.
Vincent Ogé, a French aristocrat of mixed descent who instigated a rebellion against white colonial authority in French Saint-Domingue that lasted from October to December 1790 in the area outside Cap-Français, was also to be made a Hero -
Unity
The leaders of the white and the mixed races groups march arms in arms through the capital Port au Prince with their troops -
Fire !
A member of the mixed race group is hanged by some whites. This incident provoke fights in the streets and a fire breaks out. At the end of the day 2/3 of Port au Prince is burned to the ground. -
Negotiations
3 commissioners form the National Assembly arrive in St Domingue to restore order. They meet with leader Jean Francois who agrees to lead his followers back to slavery if 400 leaders of the revolt are given their freedom.The delegates refuse so Toussaint offers to reduce the number to 60 which is also refused. Toussaint decides to continue the fighting until every person on the island is free -
French law
A French degree giving the mixed race people equal rights with the white French people is voted and approved in Paris -
France sends troops
3 new commissioners arrive from France to suppress the Revolt with 6000 soldiers and 15 ships -
King Louis is executed
King Louis XVI is executed -
Spain gets involved
The Spanish authorities offer the slaves an alliance against the French government. Jean Francois and Biassou are made generals and Toussaint colonel -
Slavery Abolished
One of the commissioners informs the population of Saint Domingue that Slavery has been abolished by France, but it is not enough to stop the Revolution -
Britain joins the fight
The British lands forces in Saint Domingue to help suppress the Slave Revolt -
Toussaint wins
Toussaint gains some major successes in reducing garrisons. Enemy troops joins his cause including white soldiers -
British takes control
The British take control of the seaboard of Port au Prince, the West and most of the South -
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Toussaint Joins the French
Toussaint decides to join the French and with 4000 soldiers he attacks Jean Francois and Biassou and retakes the North from the Spanish -
General Toussaint
Toussaint l'Ouverture is made general by the French government -
Britain retires
in November 1798 the British sign a treaty with Toussaint who had been nominated governor of the island by the French government since 2nd May 1797 -
Napoleon send troops
Napoleon sends 20 000 troops to Saint Domingue under the command of General Leclerc (his brother in law) to overthrow Toussaint and restore slavery in the colony -
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French Loses
Around 5 000 French soldiers are killed and 5 000 hospitalised -
Toussaint's Offer
Toussaint sends a letter to General Leclerc but addressed to Napoleon offering a truce. Conditions were freedom for all blacks in Saint-Domingue and for Toussaint and his staff to keep their rank and functions -
Leclerc's views
Leclerc sends a letter claiming "General Toussaint has surrendered here. He left perfectly satisfied with me and ready to carry out my orders -
Toussaint wins
Toussaint rides victoriously into the city of Le Cap with his staff and his cavalry accompanied by general Hardy. Dessalines joins them a few days later -
Yellow fever
General Leclerc sends a letter to the ministry of the marine asking for 10 000 troops because 30-50 soldiers die every day from yellow fever -
Toussaint betrayed !
General Brunet request a meeting with Toussaint. At the meeting, Toussaint is arrested. French soldiers loot and burn his house and his plantations. Along with his wife, son and niece he is put on a ship and carried to a prison in France -
Toussaint in Prison
Toussaint is imprisoned in the Fort de Joux in the Jura mountains in France -
I need more soldiers
General Leclerc sends a letter to Paris saying "San Domingo is lost to France if I have not received on the 16th January 10 000 men who must all come at the same time" -
Leclerc dies
Leclerc dies from yellow fever. Of the total of 34 000 soldiers who had come to Saint Domingue, around 24 000 are dead and 8 000 in the hospital.
General Rochambeau takes over and obtain and additional 10 000 troops -
Rochambeau's Letter
Rochambeau sends a letter to Paris asking permission to restore slavery in the colony. His army attack the mixed race groups and kills Hundreds -
Revolt
The mixed race joins the revolt against the French
Rochambeau get 10 000 new soldiers from France -
Toussaint dies
Toussaint dies in prison aged 57 -
Final assault
Blacks and mixed races under Dessalines attack Le Cap. Rochambeau decides to evacuate the Island -
Rochambeau surrenders
The general surrenders to the British after leaving Saint Domingue -
Declaration of Independence
A Declaration of Independence is officially read. The colony is renamed Haiti which was its native american name -
Emperor
Dessalines declares himself emperor of Haiti -
Massacre
All the white population of Haiti is massacred on the orders of Dessalines
