The Rebellion Spreads in Haiti

In 1791, a secret organization among the enslaved black population launched a massive uprising, quickly spreading across most of the plantations in the northern part of Haiti. While the rebellion was initially planned to occur simultaneously throughout the entire colony, confusion over the timetable led to it being confined to the north. The rebels numbered in the thousands, becoming a formidable force armed with weapons seized from plantations and with Spanish support. However, as news reached the central and southern parts of Haiti, the element of surprise was lost, and the rebels faced fierce resistance. Meanwhile, conflicts and acts of violence persisted within the rebel-controlled territory as well as among the colonists.