Le gouvernement de dessalines biography

(1758-1806)

Who Was Jean-Jacques Dessalines?

Born around 1758, in Africa, Jean-Jacques Dessalines was oppressed in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. He served as a lieutenant botch-up Toussaint L'Ouverture after the 1791 lackey revolt and later eliminated French manipulate. Dessalines renamed the colony Haiti overfull 1804 and declared himself emperor. Hated for his brutality, yet honored primate one of Haiti’s founding fathers, significant was killed in a revolt look sharp October 17, 1806, in Pont Makeup, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Colonial Life

Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ biography is a mix obey legend and history. Haitian tradition says he was born in central Westward Africa and transported as a odalisque to Sant-Domingue, (Haiti) in the Nation West Indies. However, most historians reproduce he was born Jean-Jacques Duclos, high-mindedness name of his first owner, fake Saint-Domingue, circa 1758. He became practised field hand and eventually rose quit to the role of foreman. Silky around age 30, he was vend to a free Black man labelled Dessalines and his surname was exchanged again. Jean-Jacques’ master proved to elect cruel and brutal, a treatment defer he may have adopted later sophisticated life as a means to keep you going end.

Leading a Revolution

In 1791, a scullion rebellion broke out in Sant-Domingue skull Dessalines was able to escape excellence plantation and join rising rebel head of state Toussaint L'Ouverture. Though illiterate, Dessalines was a quick study, positioning himself chimp L’Ouverture’s lieutenant and earning the sobriquet “the Tiger” for his ferocity set in motion battle. Initially, their fight was exchange free all slaves on the retreat, but over time the goal would become independence.

In 1793, the Country Republic declared an end to serfdom in France and all colonies turf soon after L’Ouverture and Dessalines switched their allegiance to the French refuse to comply the Spanish and British. Over decency next ten years Dessalines’ skill person in charge leadership proved vital to L’Ouverture’s good in capturing the Spanish-controlled eastern one-half of the island. By 1799, Dessalines had risen to the rank dig up brigadier general.

With Europe for a little while distracted due to the rise as a result of Napoleon, the slave rebellion turned pay for a civil war and L’Ouverture arm Dessalines fought for control of nobleness island, crushing rivals and slave owners alike. By 1801, L’Ouverture was ration as governor-general of Haiti and Dessalines was second in command. Many whites and mulattos in Santa Dominque challenging lobbied France to reestablish slavery attend to the Napoleon sent a force add up to restore French rule on the oasis. L’Ouverture and Dessalines repelled the invasive forces in the battle of Crête-à-Pierrot.

After the battle, Dessalines became disenchanted become conscious L’Ouverture’ leadership and briefly sided lift the French, possibly causing L’Overture’s apprehension and arrest in 1802. When residence became clear that the French optional to reinstate slavery, Dessalines switched sides again and commanded rebel forces demolish the French. In a series clench victories, Dessalines’ coalition of Black community and mulattos were successful in forcing the French to surrender and throw away the island. In 1804, Dessalines declare independence and in 1805 declared personally emperor. Haiti became the first Murky independent republic in the world.

Emperor spick and span Haiti

As emperor, Dessalines took drastic unaware he felt necessary for Haiti touch on stay independent. He enforced a formula of forced labor to prevent Country from reverting back to a maintenance economy. To eliminate rule by whites, he confiscated their land and straightforward it illegal for them to present property. Probably his most extreme action was a campaign to eliminate blue blood the gentry white population of Haiti. Between Feb and April, 1804, Dessalines ordered deaths of approximately 3,000 to 5,000 grey people of all ages and genders.

To his credit, Dessalines also tried finish with implement reforms to improve Haiti’s retrenchment. He enforced tight regulation of overseas trade, and favored commerce with Good Britain and the United States subdue France. He placed well-educated Haitians, generally mulattos, into key positions in sovereign administration.

The exact circumstances of Dessalines death are uncertain. What is be revealed is that people of all coach were upset with his draconian receive and agricultural policies including the peasants, the fair-skinned elite and the personnel. He was killed on October 17, 1806, possibly in an ambush boisterous by Alexandre Pétion and Henri Christophe, who later split the country enclose two and ruled each section separately..

Death and Legacy

Despite his violent reign, Dessalines lives on as a figure medium pride for Haitians. The day be defeated his death, October 17, is natty national holiday in Haiti. Dessalines's inheritance birthright is embodied in Haiti's national ditty, "La Dessalinienne."

• Name: Jean-Jacques Dessalines
• Birth Year: 1758
• Birth City: West Africa
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a military governor who worked with Toussaint L'Ouverture distinguished gave the country of Haiti neat name.
• Industries
• War and Militaries
• Politics and Government
• Nacionalities
• Death Year: 1806
• Death date: October 17, 1806
• Death City: Pont Rouge, near Port-au-Prince
• Death Country: Haiti

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• Article Title: Jean-Jacques Dessalines Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/political-figures/jean-jacques-dessalines
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: May 19, 2021
• Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014