1. Haitian Revolution Role
Play Scenarios

2. 1801 - Touissant Louverture’s
Constitution
Touissant Louverture creates a new constitution for
Haiti that abolishes slavery and gives all citizens
equal rights. It also outlaws Vodou (the religion
practiced by the majority of people).
The constitution also does not declare Saint
Domingue independent of France, but claims all
people living there are French citizens, and makes
Louverture their leader for life. By doing this
some of the benefits of being a colony are
preserved but the people have more rights and
freedoms.

3. Questions to Answer
1. Should the constitution be changed or stay
the way it is?
a. If it should change, how should it be changed?
1. How will the people of Saint Domingue
react to the constitution?
1. How will France react to the constitution?

4. What Actually Happened? (Part 1)
The people of Saint
Domingue were furious
about the new
constitution and saw it as
another form of slavery.
In October 1801 they began
to rebel against
Louverture and accused
him of exploiting people
for France.

5. What Actually Happened? (Part 2)
Louverture was able to stop
people from rebelling, but
they were still angry with
him.
In France, Napoleon was
furious that the
constitution had gone too
far and gave Saint
Domingue too much power.
He sends troops to invade
Saint Domingue.

6. 1802 - War for Independence
The French have invaded Saint Domingue.
Since Louverture convinced many people
they were French citizens, about half his
army began fighting for the French. A lot
of the people didn’t know that the goal of
French was to put slavery back into place,
they are just angry about Louverture’s
constitution.

7. Questions to Answer
You are a wealthy land owning former slave.
You are aware of Napoleon’s plans for Saint
Domingue.
How will you convince people that fighting for
the French is not in Saint Domingue’s best
interest?
What will you advise Louverture to do?

8. What actually happened? (Part 1)
Dessalines & the new
flag
One of Louverture’s top
generals joined the
French army, and
shortly after that
Dessalines, Louverture’s
top official joined the
French.
Louverture is tricked into
attending a meeting
and is captured.

9. What actually happened? (Part 2)
Despite capturing
Louverture and all the
people who joined the
French army,
Napoleon seriously
underestimated how
tough it would be to
take Saint Domingue
and the struggle
continued.

10. 1802 - 1803 War of Independence
Continues (Part 1)
Despite Louverture’s capture groups of
maroons and others who opposed the French
continued to fight for independence. They
want to completely abolish slavery and the
colonial system.
Meanwhile the French have reinstated slavery
in the surrounding colonies. They assure the
people of Saint Domingue if they stop
fighting and make peace that they will not
restore slavery.

11. Questions to Answer
1. Without Louverture or a clear leader
fighting against the French is tough. Should
you make peace with the French?
a. If you choose not to make peace with the French
what tactics will you use to continue your fight?
b. If you choose to make peace with the French how
can you ensure that the French will not make you a
slave colony again?

12. What actually happened? (Part 1)
The people decided to
resist the French and
keep fighting. Almost
the entire population
of Saint Domingue
fought together.
Those who joined the
French from
Louverture’s troops
rejoined the people of
Saint Domingue.

13. What actually happened? (Part 2)
In response the
French ramped up
their campaign to
take Saint
Domingue.
They brutally
executed people
who fought against
them publicly to try
and discourage the
independence

14. 1802 - 1803 War of Independence
Continues (Part 2)
With Louverture’s men now on the side of the
people of Saint Domingue they are able to
put up a stronger resistance against France.
Dessalines is now leading the people of Saint
Domingue and wants to use a scorched earth
policy to get rid of the French.

15. Questions to Answer
1. Should the scorched earth policy (burning
down everything so the enemy can’t have
access to it) be used against the French?
a. If you use the scorched earth policy how will the
island recover after the French are defeated?
b. If you do not use the scorched earth policy what
tactic should you use?
2. At this point would it be wise to try and get
the French to admit defeat and create a
peace treaty to preserve what little
relationship may remain?

16. What actually happened? (Part 1)
The scorched earth
policy was used
against the French.
This was the final blow
for the French and
they were defeated.
Napoleon pulled all his
troops out of the
western hemisphere.

17. What actually happened? (Part 2)
Dessalines proclaimed
Haiti to be the first
independent nation
of former slaves and
created a Declaration
of Independence that
abolished slavery.
The name was changed
from Saint Domingue
to the original Taino
name of “Hayti”

18. 1804 - After the Revolution
After the revolution Dessalines crowns himself
emperor of Haiti. His constitution abolishes
slavery and gives natural rights to the
people. White foreigners are not permitted
to own land in Haiti.
However, many European countries are fearful
of what happened in Haiti. They refuse to
trade with Haiti and there is fear that a
European country could try to invade them
again.

19. Questions to Answer
1. Should the constitution and laws of Haiti
stand the way they are? If foreign white
ownership of land was allowed would that
improve international relations?
1. What can the people of Haiti do to stop the
Europeans anger a them and prevent the
possibility of another invasion?

20. What actually happened? (Part 1)
European countries did
not invade Haiti, but
they refused to trade
with Haiti at all.
Dessalines scorched
earth policy had
destroyed much of the
farming and the tools
needed on the island.

21. What actually happened? (Part 2)
France refused to recognize Haiti’s
independence and Haiti was forced to pay
“damages” to the French.
The French forced Haiti into a special trade
relationship with them that hurt Haiti
economically.
This debt and the negative trading
relationship with European countries &
America had a long-term impact on Haiti.
They didn’t pay off all debts until 1947.

22. Legacy of the Haitian Revolution
● Although there was fear of more slave revolts,
no more happened - slavery continued in the
US and other surrounding colonies.
● Haiti’s successful revolution forced many
Americans and Europeans to confront their
racist beliefs.
● Louverture’s 1801 constitution was the first
ever to protect the rights of all people.
● Haiti’s poverty and struggles today can be
traced directly to the revolution and other
countries trying to isolate Haiti.