The role of the Haitian Revolution in the abolition of the slave trade | History

Starter quiz

Who wrote an autobiography about their life as an enslaved person that brought awareness to the British public about the realities of enslavement?
- William Wilberforce
- Toussaint L'Ouverture
- Olaudah Equiano ✓
- Napoleon Bonaparte
What was the name of the French colony where the Haitian Revolution broke out in 1791?
- 'Saint-Domingue' ✓
Match the legal reforms below to their descriptions.
- 1807 Slave Trade Act
  
  ⇔
  
  British law outlawing buying, selling or transporting enslaved people ✓
- Law of 4th February 1794
  
  ⇔
  
  French law outlawing enslavement throughout the French Empire ✓
- Law of 20th May 1802
  
  ⇔
  
  French law by Napoleon reinstating enslavement in the French Empire ✓
- 1804 Declaration of Independence
  
  ⇔
  
  Haitian law declaring freedom from France and independence for Haiti ✓
Put the following events into chronological order, beginning with the earliest:
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Revolution broke out in Saint-Domingue (now referred to as 'Haiti')
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  France initially opposed the Haitian Revolution
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  France relented and in 1794 it outlawed enslavement across its empire
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Britain invaded Saint-Domingue, hoping to take control of the colony
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Britain failed to capture Saint-Domingue and worried revolts could spread
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  Napoleon reinstated enslavement in 1802 and tried and failed to recapture Haiti
- 7
  
  ⇔
  
  Britain, facing abolitionist public pressure, enacted the 1807 Slave Trade Act
Which three adjectives best describe the idea of enslavement, from a human rights perspective?
- inhumane ✓
- tolerable
- dehumanising ✓
- acceptable
- unacceptable ✓
Complete the following sentence with the first name of the relevant person: "______ L'Ouverture led the Haitian rebels during the Haitian Revolution until his capture and imprisonment by France."
- 'Toussaint' ✓

Exit quiz

Match the countries with the statements, thinking about the extent of the impact that the Haitian Revolution had on abolition in these countries.
- Britain
  
  ⇔
  
  a big impact ✓
- France
  
  ⇔
  
  a mixed impact ✓
- USA
  
  ⇔
  
  little impact ✓
Which British abolitionist was strengthened by the Haitian Revolution?
- Toussaint L’Ouverture
- Jean-Jacques Dessalines
- William Wilberforce ✓
- Thomas Jefferson
Complete the following sentence: The Haitian Revolution quickly led to the abolition of enslavement throughout France’s ______, but Napoleon overturned this decision soon afterwards.
- 'colonies' ✓
Which of the following statements are accurate?
- The Haitian Revolution had a mixed impact on abolition in France ✓
- The Haitian Revolution had a positive impact on abolition in Britain ✓
- The Haitian Revolution accelerated abolition in the USA
Where were Britain worried that slave revolts would spread to?
- other Caribbean colonies ✓
- Britain itself
- France
What does 'emancipation' mean?
- Being freed from enslavement ✓
- Being enslaved
- Being forced to work on a plantation
- Being freed from being re-enslaved

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

The Haitian Revolution was a successful slave revolt and Britain feared this would inspire more.
Britain’s attempt to reinstate slavery in Haiti strengthened abolitionism, resulting in the 1807 Slave Trade Act.
France initially opposed the Haitian Revolution, but being unable to put it down, abolished slavery in 1794.
Economic problems in France led to Napoleon trying (and failing) to recapture the colony and restore slavery.
The Haitian Revolution contributed to the end of slavery in Britain and France, but hardened US attitudes.

Common misconception

The Haitian Revolution directly inspired the abolition of slavery everywhere.

The events of the Haitian Revolution strengthened Britain's abolitionist movement and helped France to initially abolish slavery in 1794; but under Napoleon the threat of enslavement returned.

Keywords

Independent - something or someone who has the power and ability to make their own decisions and is not controlled by others
Abolition - the legal outlawing of enslavement in a nation or empire
Emancipation - the freeing of enslaved people through abolition