SLAVERY AND REVOLUTION: FREEDOM TO THE OPRESSED?

The Haitian revolution, which was completed in 1804, saw the end of slavery and French rule in the Caribbean island of Saint Domingue. This was, undoubtedly, freedom to the oppressed. The end of forced and savage working conditions. The end of being ruled by some far off country. The freedom of former slaves to govern their own state and thus fend for themselves in the world. This freedom was not granted by the French revolution. It was only achieved by emancipation from revolutionary France which had been itself, forged on the very principals on Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. So why did the French Revolution not extend to the freedom of slaves? And what was the ‘freedom’ that the slaves achieved and where did it come from? One of the most important factors, which must not be overlooked in discussing the revolutionary predicament of the colonies, was their financial importance to the French economy. The support of the wealthy seaports appeared crucial to the future of the revolu...