Question

How did Haiti become independent?

Answer 1

Hint: Haitian Revolution was a series of conflicts that happened between colonists, Haitian slaves, the armies of the British and French colonizers, and a number of other parties from 1791 to 1804. It was through the struggles in this revolution, Haiti became independent.

Complete answer:
Haiti was known as Saint Dominique and it was one of the most wealthy overseas colonies of France.
The Haitian people won independence from France and thus became the first country to be founded by former slaves after their victory in the Haitian Revolution. The French regime was overthrown in Haiti by the enslaved Africans and their descendants.
The frustrated aspirations of slaves, the brutality of slave owners, and inspiration from the French Revolution were the major driving forces for the Haitian revolution which ultimately led to the independence of Haiti.
Vincent Oge was the first to lead a revolt in 1790 which was unsuccessful. Toussaint Louverture, a former slave became the leader of the slave revolt and made himself ruler. Though attempts were made by forces of Napoleon to restore French rule, Haitians, led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henry Christophe, won over the French, and Haiti was declared independent by Dessalines on 1st January 1804.

Note: Haiti became the second independent nation in the Americas, as Jean-Jacques Dessalines assumed power. The first nation to recognize its independence was France. A declaration was issued stating that France would recognise Haitian independence, but only at the price of 150 million francs, or 10 times the amount paid by the U.S. for the territory of Louisiana. The sum was intended to compensate for their lost revenues from slavery to the French colonists.