Economic Consequences of Haitian Revolution

Introduction

The Haitian Revolution has historically been considered one of the most momentous historical activities outlining the changes that took place economically between 1791 and 1804. In other words, the Haitian society, a French colony of St. Domingue, was once the wealthiest and most profitable colony. However, once the series of conflicts between the enslaved Haitians and the colonies emerged, the Haitian people eventually attained independence from France. And therefore, in this section, I bring to the reader’s attention the general conception of the research topic, which is the economic consequences of the Haitian Revolution. The independence made Haiti become the first country to be established by the initial enslaved people. But this came at a huge price, which was transforming Haiti into one of the poorest nations in the world. And so the central question arising from Haitian history is, how could a country that was so economically prosperous become extremely poor? This paper, therefore, seeks to look into the economic outcomes of the Haitian Revolution through the frameworks of war, slavery, racism.

Literature Summary

Scott (2020) affirms that forced labor was the main method for getting enslaved Black people into running the colonists’ errands, such as working in the plantation. With the prosperity obtained in the farms, the enslaved Black people began to rebel against their masters, arguing that most of the robust economy was not enjoyed by the workers themselves (Johnson, 2018).

Obtaining freedom, therefore, defined a new phase of Haitian society, which was majorly boosted by the fast-economic growth. After rebel forces defeated the French army in 1803, Haiti obtained its independence, creating a modern nation that became the first black republic. However, Ette (2021) affirms that the freedom obtained established an economic decline that has since left Haiti poor. And so this section achieves its purpose through:

Research Questions

Assessing the consequence of the Revolution provides an insight of analyzing the research topic through a two-question approach:

• How could a country that was once stable economically become so poor globally?
• How can a country as poor as Haiti regain back a wealthy and prosperous position economically as St. Domingue?

Through addressing these two questions, the research paper appropriately provides answers which are later used to compose the best suggestions to address the issue.

Analysis of Research Methodologies

The research methodology used is qualitative to sample and present data. Specifically, the paper uses a secondary research method. This involves collecting the previously recorded literature based on Haitian Revolution. The analysis is based on recent articles published recently. For instance, Popkin (2021) reveals that the Haitians have some of the lowest forms of living across the globe. Numerous Haitians lack adequate access to the most fundamental aspects of water, food, education, and electricity. And so, the consequences of the Haitian Revolution make it impossible to reconcile the modern state of Haiti with its previous level as a French colony, one that was built to establish a significant reputation for prestige and wealth.

Analysis and Evaluation of Haitian Revolution

Some of the major themes vivid and recurrent through the articles include:

• Domingue’s era was a wealthy and prosperous moment.
• Comparison and emphasis of the Revolution through modern and pre-modern elements
• Revolutions are consequential.
• Time of occurrence of the Haitian Revolution.

Before its independence, Haiti was known as St. Domingue, a French colony established through slave-based activities such as growing sugar and coffee, leading to more productivity-boosting the economy (Geggus, 2020). And so this made St. Domingue a fast-growing colony, which later resulted in numerous economic development. By 1760, Haiti had made tremendous changes in the economic sector, making it the most prosperous nation. However, with all the rapid growth of the economy came along African slave exploitation, who were the majority of individuals working in the coffee and sugarcane plantations.

Recommended Research Design/Solution

Three trajectories are valid for determining the solution to the problem. This takes the approach of:

• Frameworks of the Haitian Revolution- slave actions of destruction
• Comparing the modern and pre-modern economic elements before and after the Revolution
• Evaluating impacts of the Revolution, economically.

According to Geggus (2020), Haiti had made tremendous changes in the economic sector by 1760, making it the most prosperous nation. However, with all the rapid growth of the economy, African slave exploitation emerged. This majorly consisted of the majority of individuals working in the coffee and sugarcane plantations. After rebel forces defeated the French army in 1803, Haiti obtained its independence, creating a modern nation that became the first black republic. Ette (2021) affirms that the freedom obtained established an economic decline that has since left Haiti poor.

The appropriate research design is based on an in-depth analysis of the collected literature presented before concerning the Haitian Revolution. It is an approach that considerably provides feedback based on the two research questions addressed by the paper. First, through analyzing the recorded data, I have identified the outcomes of the Revolution, which in this case was to transform Haiti into a poor economic country.

Conclusion

In sum, the frameworks and planning of the Revolution mainly involved the destruction of the wealth initially generated by Saint-Domingue. And so, the Haitian society was left with nothing to start with, considering the fact that it was once the wealthiest and most productive colony producing about 60% of the entire world coffee and 50% sugar. However, this changed based on the Revolution’s outcomes which ruined most of the land and physical infrastructure.

References

Charles, J. M. (2020). The slave revolt that changed the world and the conspiracy against it: The Haitian Revolution and the birth of scientific racism. Journal of Black Studies, 51(4), 275-294.

Ette, O. (2021). Heinrich von Kleist: Saint-Domingue and the Haitian Revolution. In Mobile Prussia (pp. 103-133). Palgrave Macmillan, Stuttgart.

Fanning, S. (2018). Dangerous Neighbors: Making the Haitian Revolution in Early America.

Geggus, D. P. (Ed.). (2020). The impact of the Haitian Revolution in the Atlantic world. Univ of South Carolina Press.

Johnson, E. R. (2018). Philanthropy and Race in the Haitian Revolution. Palgrave Macmillan.

Pontius-Vandenberg, J. (2020). Teaching the Haitian Revolution. Social Education, 84(6), 355-361.

Popkin, J. D. (2021). The Haitian Revolution comes of age: ten years of new research. Slavery & Abolition, 42(2), 382-401.

Scott, J. S. (2020). The common wind: Afro-American Currents in the Age of the Haitian Revolution. Verso Books.