Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The main objective of this article is to help to correct the partial and undervalued image that is spread globally about Haiti: a country that is all too often presented as the Western Hemisphere's poorest, without reference to the factors that have led to its current situation. Extraordinary aspects of its history are overlooked, particularly the many gains made by its inhabitants - slaves of African origin, who not only created the great wealth that enabled France to develop capitalism, but also managed to abolish slavery and achieve national independence. This article argues that it is essential to understand the Haitian Revolution, over 200 years after its triumph, in order to reflect upon the profound social importance of this event led by slaves - a feature that explains its peculiarities, historical significance and the stigma that it and the Haitian nation have suffered.
Keywords: Haiti, Toussaint Louverture, slavery, capitalism, imperialism, history
Major Trends and Bibliographic Debates
Before analysing the main characteristics of the Haitian revolution it is necessary to understand the socio-ethnic nature of the many and complex internal social con- tradictions existing within the colony and how they were resolved. The revolution had multiple and contradictory repercussions and for this reason it is one of those historical events upon which there is a vast literature, published from the time when it took place right up to the present. Historians, academics, sociologists, psychologists and anthropologists from various countries have written about it, who of course relate to different aspects and with different approaches and objectives, a factor that also illustrates its transcendental importance.
As a consequence, the historical event has also generated many historiographi- cal debates, among which the most important are:
1. To determine whether it was a French Revolution in the Caribbean or if it was a genuine Haitian Revolution in its own right.
2. To periodise the process using different criteria. Some authors have done so from essentially an ethnic outlook while others from socio-class conceptions.
3. Finally there has been an attempt to demonstrate the importance of the revolution in its various dimensions, both spatial and temporal. Among them is an emphasis on showing all facets of the personality and work of Toussaint Louverture, not only as an act...