Toussaint L’Ouverture, the famed leader and a revolutionist for the slaves of Haiti, however was he all that he was cracked up to be?
First Toussaint rose from the chains of slavery to become a brigadier general in the French army “defeating such powerful enemies as the Spanish General André Rigaud” (709, Mckay). To rise from the oppression of the Haitian land owners and to establish a name for himself, especially as a colored man, in the French army. Not only a name, but a rank of such height that many white men would have a hard time reaching. A brigadier general is not a rank given lightly, Toussaint won many battles as an officer “he lead his troops to a series of victories against the Spanish……Over the next three years L’Ouverture successfully eliminated rivals for authority of the island( Haiti )” (709, Mckay). The simple fact that Toussaint won battles proves he was doing something right. He was a man of commanding and held enormous self-control according to Mckay. The pieces seem to fit, suggesting he was a great general. Bestowed with honors and promotions his reputation was almost famous among French soldiers. So why is there any dispute as to his legacy as a leader?
Well, one can compare L’Ouverture to Napoleon in terms of his lust for power. Once Toussaint had control of Saint Dominique, he encouraged nay, forced the slaves to resume their duties. Yes this is justified by the fact that the revenue and the economy of the island was the only aspect keeping the island from a French intervention. Toussaint knew this, he also knew that “without money to pay his troops, the gains of the rebellion would be lost” (709, Mckay). He immediately enforced control and order on the island. Toussaint’s lust for power can also be supported by the fact that he called a colonial assembly for the creation of a new constitution “that reaffirmed his draconian labor policies and named L’Ouverture governor for life” (709, Mckay). This was a very questionable move from the famous general. Firstly this limited the Haitian’s progress both in social areas and economic areas. Constricting the fate of the colony to Toussaint’s wishes and ideas, basically establishing Haiti as provincial. Secondly L’Ouverture was turning on his former actions of fighting for liberty, by reaffirming the policies of slavery, which he had instilled in the colony.
In conclusion Toussaint was a most successful general leading his troops to many victories which in turn lead to his promotion and fame among the social areas. However later as his power grew to control of the island of Saint Dominque, his actions as a governor proved to go against his early ideals of liberty by reaffirming the necessity for slavery among the Haitian people. Perhaps the necessity of slavery trumped the moral inclination however facts are facts and in my mind, his actions are subject to question.
