A Concise History of the Haitian Revolution

Learn about the first time in history that people of color overthrew a European colonial regime to establish an independent country 

Describing the only successful slave revolt in world history, the newly revised Second Edition of A Concise History of the Haitian Revolution delivers a nuanced and rigorous treatment of the events of the Haitian Revolution of the late 18th century and early 19th century. The book describes events from the slave uprising in the French colony of Saint-Domingue in 1791 and the emergence of its leader, Toussaint Louverture, to the declaration of independence by Jean-Jacques Dessalines in 1804. 

The new edition is updated to reflect the most recent scholarship in the field,  including original research conducted by author Jeremy D. Popkin. It is a valuable resource for anyone studying independence movements in the Americas, the history of the Atlantic world, the history of the African diaspora, and the age of the American and French revolutions. 

Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: 

• The latest research on the subject of the Haitian Revolution, including new discoveries by the author and other scholars 
• Coverage of the post-revolutionary period up to 1843, a period of intense interest in recent scholarship 
• A clear and accessible approach to the subject that doesn’t assume or require any previous knowledge of this period in history 

Perfect for undergraduate students of history taking courses like the History of the Atlantic World, History of the Revolutionary Era, Latin American History to 1820, and History of the African Diaspora, A Concise History of the Haitian Revolution is also an ideal resource for high school teachers seeking a challenging resource for AP World History students. 

JEREMY D. POPKIN is William T. Bryan Chair of History at the University of Kentucky. He has published several books on the revolutionary era, including A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution and You Are All Free: The Haitian Revolution and the Abolition of Slavery.

List of Illustrations vi

Series Editor’s Preface vii

Introduction 1

1 A Colonial Society in a Revolutionary Era 12

2 The Uprisings, 1791–1793 37

3 Republican Emancipation in Saint-Domingue, 1793–1798 64

4 Toussaint Louverture in Power, 1798–1801 92

5 The Struggle for Independence, 1802–1806 116

6 Consolidating Independence in a Hostile World 143

Afterword: The Earthquake Crisis of 2010 and the Haitian Revolution 169

Recent Scholarship on the Haitian Revolution 172

Notes 181

Index 192

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.