How did Haiti win the Revolution? Toussaint's skill!

By LaGrace Benson <lbenson@sescva.esc.edu>
8 June 1995

Success of Haitian Revolution:

Yellow fever is widely cited as a major cause in the defeat of the French, but when you look at other warhistory/disease history, this factor , like the ration of slaves (ratio) to owners, is seen to be a frequent but not determining cause among a complex of causes. What amzes me about the analyses of the Haitian situation is that the brilliance of the black generals ESPECIALLY that of Toussaint, is left unmentioned. There is some evidence that he read Ceasar's Wars, and in any case, if his campaigns are followed carefully, one sees a clever mind at work. He was the tutor of several other leaders, but Dessalines & Christophe were also astute warriors. LeClerc was less a master, and certainly less a master of guerilla methods. Hey! Let's give them credit!