Fun Fact Friday!

I've got another history lesson for todays fun fact, this time dealing with revolutions! Todays date in 1791 marked the first day of the Haitian Revolution. For those who are familiar with generic revolutionary history, you will know that the French revolution began in 1789. And if you have studied the Enlightenment era, you would know that Haiti was a French colony known as Saint-Domingue. If you're sensing that I'm going to tie these statements together, well then give yourself a pat on the back, you're quite the attentive reader!

During the years of their revolution, the French held meetings to help guide the Kings decisions known as the National Assembly. However, these meetings of the Assembly tended to have a radical sense of mind in the opinion of the wealthy back then. In late August of 1789, the Assembly published "Declaration of the Rights of Man" demanding equal treatment for all. Since Saint-Domingue was a French Colony, what the Assembly generated and produced was for the people of the colony as well. Thus, since the King wasn't allowed to make the lowest class pay multiple taxes along with working in horrible conditions, there was no way the slaves of Saint-Domingue were going to accept their current positions.

The reason why the Haitian Revolution is such an interesting topic, is because it is the only revolt that was successful during this period that was lead by slaves. They eventually became an independant nation in the year of 1804. Toussaint Louverture, the main leader of the slaves, had seen many battles before this one. He fought the Spanish Crown, and the English on separate occasions. He fought the English in favor of the French, believing that the French would not turn the island into a slave colony.

The Revolution inspired many, most notably in American slave history, Nat Turner. Turner was a self educated, religious man who instigated the most successful slave revolt in the United States. Turner lead around 50 other blacks to attack certain white, slave owning houses killing every man, woman, and child who accepted slavery as a legitimate practice. However, Turners revolt was not nearly as successful as its Haitian comparison because of a lack of ability to communicate and loyalty among the other revolutionaries.

Well that wraps it up for the history lesson. Have a safe weekend and we'll see you next week. Oh and as long as I am posting, Doug and Pat are in the midst of traveling to their next homes, so it may be a while before you hear from them. But I'll continue with the postings, so that should keep you coming back for more, right? RIGHT?