The causes of the Haitian Revolution
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why enslaved people in Saint-Domingue rose up in revolt in 1791.
Key learning points
- The French colony of Saint-Domingue's economy was based on enslaved people working on plantations.
- Most of the people on Saint-Domingue were enslaved people, but the population was diverse.
- French revolutionary ideas of equality and liberty caused a growth in abolitionist feeling among the colony's people.
- In 1791, a slave revolt broke out on the island, assisted by so-called 'free blacks' and indigenous people.
- Toussaint L'Ouverture emerged as the leader of the Haitian Revolution.
Keywords
Prosperous - refers to being economically successful or wealthy
Grands blancs - this was the name given to the group of French elites who ruled over the colony of Saint-Domingue
Indigenous - the original inhabitants of a specific area
Hierarchy - refers to a system in which members of a society are ranked according to status or authority
Common misconception
All the peoples who revolted in Saint-Domingue were enslaved people.
The revolutionaries of Saint-Domingue were comprised of a combination of enslaved people, free people of African descent and free indigenous people.
Teacher tip
Help students to appreciate the irony that the new French Republic (founded on ideals of liberty and equality) was repressing a revolution, in one of their own colonies, where the revolutionaries themselves were inspired by French revolutionary ideals.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was the name of the 17th century thought movement that caused revolutions around the world?
Q2.Which country, inspired by Enlightenment ideas, overthrew their king in 1798, and executed him in 1793?
Q3.Put the following in chronological order, starting with the earliest.
Q4.Match the following people with their correct nationality.
French king executed during the Enlightenment
English Enlightenment philosopher who believed in the Social Contract
Scottish Enlightenment philosopher
Italian scientist who discovered the Earth revolves around the sun
Q5.What is the name of the country created after a revolt of enslaved people, inspired by the Enlightenment, in the French colony of Saint-Domingue in 1791?
Q6.What is the historical name for the 'Age' that the Enlightenment gave rise to?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Roughly how many enslaved African people were forced to work on plantations in Saint-Domingue by the end of the 18th century?
Q2.Arrange the following events into chronological order, starting with the earliest.
Q3.Complete the following sentence: The French Revolution in 1789 promised new rights and to all who lived under French rule, including its colonies such as Saint-Domingue.
Q4.Which of the below groups of people were the other 'free people' aside from the grands blancs in Saint-Domingue?
Q5.Complete the following sentence: Saint-Domingue’s free people of colour found common cause with the African population who had faced years of oppression and forced labour.
Q6.What word describes the 'stratification' of a society into levels where those at the top have power and authority, and those at the bottom have no power or authority?
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The causes of the Haitian Revolution, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The causes of the Haitian Revolution, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Haitian Revolution: what was its role in the abolition of the slave trade? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.