In the year of 1863 Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery. This monumental change in history demonstrates his moral leadership. In contrast, Hitler who lacked any redeeming quality, had thousands and thousands of people killed in hopes of creating a new race instead of declaring all people free and equal. Toussaint Louverture was born in the 1740s. As a young slave he worked as a herder, coachmen, and an overseer of fellow slaves working in the field. He was eventually granted freedom by his owner and then decided to rent a small coffee plantation. In 1789, Toussaint emerged as a leader during the rebellions that resulted from the white refusal to end slavery in Saint Domingue. He encouraged slaves to fight for their freedom. However, in 1794 France abolished all slavery in the colonies and Toussaint switched his allegiance to France. However, when Napoleon became emperor he planned to reinstate slavery in Saint Domingue. Toussaint switched sides yet again and lead an invasion of 21,000 French troops, but was captured and taken to France. Ironically, Napoleon pulled his troops out of the battle, resulting in a victory for Saint Domingue. Sadly, Saint Domingue's beloved leader was dying of pneumonia in a French jail. Toussaint would never know that on January 1, 1804, Haiti, Saint Domingue’s new name, would become an independent nation. Merriam-Webster defines legacy as, "something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past." Toussaint Louverture should be remembered for his incredible legacy, as a liberator of slaves, ruler of Saint Domingue, and military commander. Although Toussaint should be remembered for all of these roles, his role as a liberator of slaves is most important.
One of Louverture’s greatest roles in his lifetime was as a liberator of slaves. In 1791, Toussaint joined the slave revolt in northern Saint Domingue (A). He was a doctor for the troops and also commanded a small group of rebel soldiers (A). Toussaint was on Saint Domingue's side at this time, but when France abolished slavery in its colonies, Toussaint and his troops stopped their revolt and switched their allegiance to France (A). Toussaint even went to the length of organizing an army against the British, who were nervous about the ideas of freedom spreading to their colony in Jamaica (A). Toussaint switched his allegiance to Saint Domingue once again, when there were rumors of Napoleon reinstating slavery by France (A). All of these actions show that Toussaint obtained and maintained the leadership goals and abilities that would allow him to fight for the abolishment of slavery. In November 1797, Toussaint writes a letter to the French Directory. He threatens, "We have known how to confront danger to our liberty, and we will know how to confront death to preserve it" (B). This threat demonstrates Toussaint's loyalty to helping the slaves gain their freedom even if death is the result. This letter's main purpose is to show Toussaint's role as a liberator of slaves. Article 3, of the Saint Domingue Constitution of 1801, signed by Toussaint Louverture, states "There cannot exist slaves in this territory, servitude is therein forever abolished. All men are born, live and die free and French" (C). By signing this Constitution, Toussaint showed that he wanted freedom for slaves. Toussaint’s role as a liberator of slaves should be included in his legacy because he consistently supported the side that was fighting for the abolishment of slavery throughout his entire life.
Toussaint was a liberator of slaves, but he also became the Ruler of Saint Domingue in the year 1798 (A). As the new ruler of Saint Domingue, Toussaint had many responsibilities and expectations to withhold to in order to make his people happy. Article 14 of the Saint Domingue Constitution states, “The colony being essentially agricultural cannot suffer the least disruptions in the works of its cultivation” (C). By signing this Constitution, Toussaint shows he is going to make sure Saint Domingue prospers. He knows that in order to maintain the nation’s economy, the plantations needed to be maintained, as well. He promises that the workers on each plantation will share the revenue with their owner (C). This promise didn’t completely satisfy the people because even though they were being paid for their labor, they were doing the same exact work as they were doing when they were slaves. This caused revolts to break out and on November 25, 1801, Toussaint Louverture announces the “Proclamation, 25 November 1801.” This proclamation addresses the punishments that will happen to anyone who disobeys the laws. One of the several punishments Toussaint puts in place is, “Any manager or driver of a plantation upon which a foreign cultivator [field worker from another plantation] shall have taken refuge shall denounce him to the captain or commander of the section within 24 hours under penalty of one week in prison” (D). This states that if an owner of a plantation does not report a refuge worker, than they will have to serve one week in prison. All of these punishments, although harsh, show Toussaint’s determination to make sure the people of Saint Domingue follow the law. Toussaint may have been a strict ruler, but he was also a great ruler because he always made sure Saint Domingue, would always prosper. His great leadership skills made him a remarkable ruler, and should therefore be added to his legacy.
Toussaint was a great ruler of Saint Domingue, but he was also a very talented military commander. In Madison Smartt Bell’s, Toussaint Louverture: A Biography, 2007, Hyacinthe Moyse’s, Toussaint’s nephew, revolt in the Northern plantations against plantation farming is discussed. Bell writes the following about Toussaint, “he passed through the rebel zone he ordered the mutineer regiments on parade and summoned certain men to step out of the ranks and blow their brains out….Toussaint ordered Moyse’s arrest and had him confined in the fort of Port de Paix” (E). Making rebel soldiers commit suicide in front of each other and arresting his nephew and ordering his execution by firing squad, does make Toussaint appear to be a malevolent person, but these acts, although ruthless, demonstrate his role as a strong military commander. Toussaint knew how to direct his soldiers and utilize the right war tactics that made him an unforgettable military commander. In The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements, 2nd edition, by William Wells Brown, there is a section titled “A Description of Toussaint Louverture.” This section describes Toussaint’s role as a military commander. Brown states, “his superior knowledge of the character of his race, his humanity, generosity, and courage, had gained the confidence of all whom he had under his command” (F). Toussaint’s commanding authority and strong will made people follow him and his orders. Napoleon wanted to take control of Saint Domingue once again, so between December 1801 and February 1802, France invaded Saint Domingue. Toussaint and his troops used their guerilla tactics to defeat the French (A). Brown recounts this amazing war tactic, “Toussaint and his generals at once abandoned the towns, and betook themselves to the mountains, those citadels of freedom in St. Domingue, where the blacks have always proved too much for the whites” (F). Toussaint and his troops burned the city, so the French would not be able to find any resources that would help them win the invasion, and then fled to the mountains where the French would have a disadvantage because they were not familiar with the territory. Not only did Toussaint have a courageous character that made him a great military commander, he was also very smart when it came to war tactics. Toussaint’s role as a military commander should be added to his legacy because of his smart tactical abilities and persuasive characteristics.
Toussaint Louverture was a remarkable man. He grew up as a slave in his beloved Saint Domingue, and then went on to become a liberator of slaves, ruler of Saint Domingue, and a military commander. All of these roles contribute to Toussaint’s legacy. He moved from Saint Domingue’s side, to the French’s side, and then back to Saint Domingue’s side. Although it seems that Toussaint was inconsistent, he was actually being quite consistent because he was always fighting for the side that was for the abolishment of slavery. This shows how important his role as a liberator of slaves was in history. Toussaint also became the ruler of Saint Domingue and governed the nation so that it would prosper, even if this meant enforcing strict laws that resulted in revolts, at times. His legacy didn’t stop there, he was also a very skillful military commander, making decisions that may have seem ruthless at the time, but were actually very intelligent in terms of military tactics. There is a lot to remember about Toussaint Louverture, but his role as a liberator of slaves is most important to his legacy. This is because his entire life was focused on helping slaves gain their freedom which he accomplished. Becoming a ruler of a nation or a military commander was never part of his plan; these roles came along to aid in and augment his key role as a liberator of slaves.
Source:
Background Essay.
DocumentA. Created from various sources.
Document B. Toussaint Louverture, “Letter to the French Directory, November 1797.”
Document C. The Saint Domingue Constitution 1801. Signed by Toussaint Louverture in July 1801.
Document D. Toussaint Louverture, “Proclamation, 25 November 1801.”
Document E. Madison Smartt Bell, Toussaint Louverture: A Biography, 2007.
Document F. William Wells Brown, “A Description of Toussaint Louverture,” from The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements, 2nd edition, 1863. Engraving of Toussaint Louverture, 1802.
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