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  1789 Saint Domingue (Haiti): First revolts (led by whites, mulattos)
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  1790 Saint Domingue: “Night of Fire”—well-organized slave revolt
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  1791 France: National Assembly declares full civil rights for mulattos (free men of color)
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  1792 Saint Domingue: Commissioner Sonthonax grants freedom to slaves in the North Province who fought for the French Republic, then orders general abolition
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  1793 France: National Assembly sanctioned Sonthonax’ abolition law and extended freedom to slaves in all its colonies in the Emancipation Decree of 1794
 Saint Domingue: Toussaint l’Ouverture leaves alliance with British & Spanish to help France drive them from the island
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  1799 France: Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power
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  1799 Saint Domingue: British expelled from Saint-Domingue
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  1801 France: Napleon dispatches General Leclerc to subdue Haiti
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  1802 France : Reestablishment of slavery (May), Bonaparte named Consul for life
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  Saint Domingue: Death of LeClerc (November)
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  General Dessalines proclaims independence of Haiti (August 29)
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  France/U.S.: Signature of treaty of purchase, Louisiana Territory
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  France: Implementation of the Civil Code; declaratino of empire
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  Portugal: Removal of the Braganza royal family to Brazil