wed actual civil war. The French land owners
or "colons" called in the English to help them combat the blacks.[7]
The English came to their aid. By the end of 1793 the latter took
possession of a part of the island which seemed lost to France, being
occupied partly by Spaniards and partly by English, when Toussaint
L'Ouverture, the bondman leading the revolting slaves, espoused the
cause of France. Following months of bloody war, France, apprehensive
of a British invasion in full force, and not being able to put down
the insurgents, weary and tired of the struggle, conciliated. August,
1793, Universal Freedom was proclaimed--this measure was ratified by
the National convention early the following year. This was the first
time in the history of the world a legislative assembly ever decreed
the abolition of human slavery.

The British, having taken Port-au-Prince and besieged the French
Governor at Port-de-la-Paix when the blacks under Toussaint
L'Ouverture defeated them and released the French Governor, abandoned
the island in 1797. L'Ouverture, who up to forty years of age had been
a slave, thus succeeded in ridding the island of the Spaniards and the
English. The French government rewarded him by appointing him
major-general and governor of the island.

This left L'Ouverture Commander-in-Chief and virtually dictator of the
island. He set up a Republic, drew up a Constitution, which he sent to
Napoleon. For answer Napoleon appointed Leclerc governor of the
colony, and sent a formidable army to reduce the authority of
L'Ouverture. War broke out again. After several engagements
L'Ouverture surrendered and retired on his properties. He was
subsequently decoyed on board a French vessel, kidnapped and deported
to Paris. He was then placed by Bonaparte in a damp prison of the
fortress of Joux on the chilly heights of Jura where he died. In
September, 1802, the peoples of color took up arms against French
domination under the leadership of General Dessalines and swore to die
rather than remain subservient any longer.[8] By the end of 1793
Rochambeau, who on the death of General Leclerc was put in command by
Bonaparte, was hard pressed in the city of Cape Haitien by black
troops and was compelled to capitulate and "the power of France was
lost on the island forever." On January 1, 1804, Haiti, as it was
better known, proclaimed its independence with General Dessalines as
ruler. Slavery was abolished forever. In 1822 Haiti, th