How Did The Haitian Economy Change After The Revolution In 1799?

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How did the Haitian economy change after the revolution in 1799?

How did the Haitian economy change after the revolution in 1799?

Introduction

The revolution of Haiti during 1791-1804 is described as the revolt of slaves that transformed in the small French colony of Saint-Dominique. Because of the revolution, people of Haiti were able to move away from slavery and the Republic of Haiti. This revolution is the only revolution in which slave people were able to create an independent state for themselves (Bryan, 1984; Katz, 2006).

During the end of the eighteenth century, two revolution attempts were successful in providing their people complete independence from colonial power of Europe, and most importantly, this revolution is described in American history as the most effective revolt that provided African people with a new sense of hope in the future world.

Even though the revolution was able to create an independent state that was governed by elected officials, it was not able to change the rules and regulations of the society. People found it hard to forget the fear and agony they faced during the French rule mainly because it was based on extreme violence and threat, and they also would discriminate minority people every chance they got.

During the war of independence, a group of people known as the Descendants became leaders in Haiti. These people took advantage of their experience and relationships with the French people during the war and were able to acquire unexpected wealth. They also used their status to create a government in the state; however, their political and economic power resulted in another division in the state (Geggus, 2002).

Discussion

Background on the revolution

As history reveals, European people have been blessed wealth, and because of this wealthy people of the Caribbean island were entirely dependent on Europeans to provide them resources for their sugar plantations. People of Haiti were then able to participate in the trade of manufactured goods with North America and Europe (Bryan, 1984).

Haiti was also known for their smaller productions of coffee, cocoa, and cotton; however, these products were produced in much smaller quantities compared to sugar. The sugar plantations were started around 1790 by French engineers who were able to construct modern and complex irrigation systems to help increase sugar production. By the end of 1790, Saint -Dominique along with Jamaica became the largest suppliers of sugar cane in the world

The Production of sugar is mostly dependent on the quantity of effective labor, and during this period, the labor requirement was fulfilled by hiring African slaves. Europeans became frightened of the massive African population, and feared that a revolt could occur. To prevent the Africans from organizing a revolt, Europeans used violence and threat as an important tool of governance (Geggus & Feiring 2009).

Africans on the Island were living in agony and desperation. Those who planned to revolt or refused to work were treated with extreme violence such as, burning and whipping. However, the French king of the time passed a law in 1685 that described these activities as ...