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Summary of The Black Jacobins 

4.8 . 1026 reviews

Short summary

“The Black Jacobins” documents why and how the only successful slave revolt in history took place. Slaves in the West Indian colony of San Domingo revolted two years after the French Revolution started in August 1791 (The French Revolution started on May 5, 1789). The revolt was a 12-year struggle that culminated in the establishment of the Negro state of Haiti. The slaves defeated the local whites and the soldiers of the French monarchy, a Spanish invasion, a British expedition of some 60,000 men, and a French expedition of similar size under Bonaparte’s brother-in-law in 1803. Cyril Lionel Robert James was a Trinidadian historian, journalist, and socialist. In “The Black Jacobins,” he shows that the slaves achieved this feat due to the exemplary leadership of one of the most remarkable men — Toussaint L’Ouverture — at a time when remarkable men were in rich supply. “…between 1789 and 1815, with the single exception of Bonaparte himself, no single figure appeared on the historical stage more greatly gifted than this Negro, a slave till he was 45. Yet Toussaint did not make the revolution. It was the revolution that made Toussaint. And even that is not the whole truth.” ~ C.L.R. James

Table of content

  • Summary of The Black Jacobins
  • About the author
  • What is The Black Jacobins about?
  • Who should read The Black Jacobins
  • Topics in The Black Jacobins
first key point

The people of San Domingo were plunged into slavery by European lords

Listen the first key point
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Christopher Columbus encountered the Haitian Indians in his quest for gold. He had been redirected from San Salvador to Haiti, a large island rich in gold. Despite suffering a shipwreck that cost him one of his ships, he experienced the hospitality of the natives. They ensured the salvaged articles that they helped him bring on shore were not stolen.

These natives had been suffering from the brutish Spaniards who named their island Hispaniola.
Through artificial famine, murder and other atrocities, Spaniards decimated Haitian population from over 15 million to 60,000 in 15 years.
A Dominican priest, Las Casas, displeased with the slavery of these natives, appealed to the Spanish government to abolish it. The government agreed to end forced labor but its agents maintained it in the colony. In a bid to prevent the total destruction of the people within one generation, Casas suggested that they import Negroes from Africa. Consequently, Charles V authorized the export of 15,000 slaves to San Domingo. Thus, the combined action of the Dominican priest and the King gave birth to the American slave-trade and slavery. The year was 1517.

For nearly 30 years, the French, British, and Spaniards continued to fight over Tortuga, a little island located 6 miles off the north coast of San Domingo. The French buccaneers prevailed in 1659. From Tortuga, they moved to San Domingo and settled there. They cultivated cocoa, indigo and cotton in addition to the sugar-cane since the Spaniards had spoiled the cattle business by killing all the bulls in the area.

The French raided the English island of Jamaica in search for capital. These raiders carted away 2,000 Negroes and some money. The raiding and counter-raiding between Spaniards, British and French continued until the Treaty of Ryswick was brokered in 1695. This treaty gave the western part of the island to the French.

In search of labor, they brought in some white “engages” who were freed after a few years of labor. These “engages” could not withstand the climate. Consequently, the slavers opted for more Negroes until millions were shipped from Africa.

The goal of this summary is to explore the factors that built up to the San Domingo revolution under the leadership of Toussaint L’Ouverture. The following will be highlighted in this bite-sized book:
• Analysis and demonstration of the movement of the economic forces of the age.
• How these forces molded society and politics.
• How men, individually and collectively, were shaped by these forces.
• The powerful reaction of these men in their environment at a rare moment when the society was fluid.
second key point

In a quest to improve productivity, San Domingo slavers invaded Africa and carted away Negroes

In the 16th century, Central Africa was known for its harmonious and tranquil society. Traders could travel thousands of miles with no fear of death or calamities. The bloodiest rivalries did not take more than 6 lives at the time.
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third key point

The slaves were severely punished for the slightest offence

fourth key point

The tragedy of mass movements is that they rarely find adequate leadership

fifth key point

The Mackandal Rebellion was a bold move to drive the whites out of the colony

sixth key point

The economics of the 18th century was inseparably linked to slavery and the slave trade from earlier centuries

seventh key point

Economic prosperity is no guarantee of social stability

eighth key point

The French Revolution began on May 5, 1789, and inspired the San Domingo slaves to seek their freedom

ninth key point

The most important need of every revolutionary pitch is a clear and vigorous direction

tenth key point

Conclusion

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