-
The western half of the island of Hispaniola, known at the time as Saint-Domingue, was officially given over to the French by the Spanish.
-
A man named Dutty Boukman ran a voodoo ceremony that helped instigate the slave rebellion, which began in August 1791.
-
In February 1791, Vincent Oge is executed after a failed attempt at revolt; from this time until July 1791, murmurings about revolution began as Oge had been the first to attempt a major revolt.
-
In April 1792, a new Legislative Assembly is formed in France and granted full citizenship to free men of color
-
In February 1793, France enters war with Great Britain, who had control of the island of Jamaica close by Saint Domingue.
-
In August 1793, Sonthonax declares freedom for all slaves in the Northern part of the island, which is later extended to include the whole island.
-
In February 1794, the National Convention ratifies Sonthonax's declaration freeing all slaves in the colony Saint Domingue.
-
In May 1794, Toussaint L'Ouverture, leader of the rebelling slaves, decides to join forces with Sonthonax and the French troops.
-
In 1801, Toussaint L'Ouverture issues a new constitution declaring himself governor-general of Saint Domingue for life.
-
In May of 1802, Napoleon signs a law that reinstated slavery where it had not already disappeared.
-
In 1802, Napoleon sends his brother-in-law, Charles Leclerc, with 40,000 troops to take the colony of Saint Domingue back from Toussaint L'Ouverture.
-
Toussaint L'Ouverture, who had been captured, arrested, and exiled to France by Leclerc, dies in prison.
-
On January 1, 1804, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, formerly one of L'Ouverture's closest aides, abolishes the colony of Saint Domingue and restores the indigenous name for the land, Hayti, for the new republic.
-
France does not recognize Haiti as a nation until 1825, meaning that they did not open trade with Haiti, essentially embargoing them, until this point.
-
As a result of being recognized by France, Haiti owed France 90 million Francs, a horrendous amount of debt that was not paid off with interest until 1947