Louverture S Effective Leaders Essay, Research Paper

Louverture s Effective Leadership: Haiti s Answer to Slavery

From 1791 to 1802, a former slave known as Toussaint Louverture committed his life to the abolishment of slavery in Haiti. After accomplishing his goal of freedom, Louverture s success flourished as his name, along with his amazing audacity attained universal fame. His military reputation of conquering just about any piece of land that Louverture desired created a wave of fear, all the way from America to England to Spain. Most surprising, perhaps, is the thought of Louverture s rise from slavery to eventually reaching such positions as Lieutenant Governor, Governor-General, and ultimately liberator and leader of Haiti. After having led a life of determination, Toussaint is now known as The Precursor. By widely establishing himself as a relentless, forceful leader, Fran ois Dominique Toussaint L Ouverture succeeded in abolishing slavery in Haiti.

After being set free in 1777, Louverture focused on liberating all Haitian slaves. In the black slave uprising of 1791 in St. Dominique* against the French colonial regime, Toussaint (as he was originally named) safely exiled his master s family when he heard of the uprising s danger towards the whites. The chain of rebellion had been started by the free blacks after The French Revolution of 1789; the fact that the French planters would not grant these people citizenship as decreed by the National Assembly of France in its Declaration of the Rights of Man propelled their anger. Toussaint started off as a physician to the rebellious army. However, Toussaint s skillful and intelligent planning along with his promising leadership soon emerged through his negotiations between white and black leaders and also through his ability to organize and train his own army in the methods of guerrilla warfare. The world took note of his impressive warriors, as they soon became an intimidating fighting force. The fame that the guerilla warriors received brought about an important step in Toussaint s powerful leadership: not only did the Europeans knight him, but they also recognized Toussaint as a respected general in the 1793 war between France and Spain.

L Ouverture became Toussaint s surname in 1793, an eventful year for The Precursor. The reasoning behind choosing such a name as L Ouverture, a French word meaning the opening, might come from his bravery in once making a breach in enemy ranks. However, another explanation involves Toussaint s desire to convince the blacks that by organizing the revolution he had opened the gate to freedom for them: Oh you Africans, my brothers, have you forgotten that it is I who first raised the standard of insurrection against tyranny, against the despotism that kept you in chains? Besides adding onto his name, Toussaint kept himself quite occupied in 1793 the year in which France and Spain went to war. He and Biassou (under whom Toussaint served as chief lieutenant) allied with the Spanish in Santo Domingo, on the eastern part of the island. Soon, Toussant s authoritative manner allowed him to command his own forces independent of Biassou s army. Black forces rapidly joined the French against the royalists on the promise of freedom, and eventually Commissioner Sonthonax abolished slavery in La Cap. Attracting various prominent warriors, including Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henry Christophe two upcoming monarchs of Haiti Toussaint once again confirmed his outstanding military ability. Toussaint and his Spanish forces enjoyed a remarkable victory in the north; nevertheless, Toussaint s next move was completely unforeseeable.

It is true, General, that I have been deceived by the enemies of the Republic, but what man can boast of his ability to escape every pitfall? In truth, they caught me in their snares. Toussaint acknowledged that he had made a mistake by having joined the Spaniards in this letter to a French general. His manipulative power proved to be effective. Merely months later, Toussaint decided to side with the French instead of the Spanish in the middle of the war, after the French had agreed to ban slavery. Though Toussaint certainly was criticized for his hypocrisy immediately following his decisive action, Toussaint s pervasive influence created the outcome he was aiming for. In no time, Etienne Laveaux, governor of France s domain, appointed Toussaint Lieutenant Governor. At the ceremony, de Lacroix commented, It must be acknowledged that as soon as Toussaint officially became associated with the government, there was an immense improvement in the spirit of the Negroes. The voice of authority, no longer suspect, called them to order, to work, to submission. Toussaint s power became greater than ever. He changed the habits of the Negroes by his will alone. This comment undoubtedly supports the idea that Louverture s powerful, unstoppable leadership is a key part of how Louverture achieved his success in freeing the slaves. From then on, Toussaint L Ouverture s overpowering reputation was recognized worldwide, and L Ouverture was granted the power he needed to accomplish his desire of freedom for slaves.

L Ouverture was well distinguished by 1795. To many newly freed blacks who had just started to experience equality and profit sharing of the restored plantations, he was an inspiration; to whites who recognized his forceful and successful work to restore the economy, he was a triumph. Toussaint then went on to urge reconcilement in order to settle racial conflict. When all was well between himself and his domain s government, Toussaint once again stunned many by firing several extremists, including his European-radical governor Laveaux and French commissioner Leger Sonothonax on account of their radical viewpoints to eliminate the remaining whites in the area. By taking such severe action, Toussaint illustrated his powerful control over others.

As for me, General, you may reply upon my sentiments of humanity. I have always had a horror of leaders who find satisfaction in the shedding of blood. My religion, whose precepts I mean to observe, forbids it.

In 1798 and 1799, the British, due to their losses, secretly negotiated treaties with Toussaint that completed their withdrawal. They went on to establish agreements to provide Toussaint with weapons, armament, and other goods. These arrangements were made so as to achieve Toussaint s sugar trade and agree to not invade Jamaica. Obviously, Toussaint posed as a threat to the British. Not only that, but America feared him as well, indulging him with plenty in return for his promise to not invade Southern America.

Meanwhile, Toussaint was also busy once again dismissing a French superior, this time Gabriel Hedouville, a representative of the Directory who made an attempt to reclaim Saint Dominique for the French. France was at war with England at the time, so Hedouville wanted to bring internal turmoil by setting Toussaint against a semi self-independent mulatto state in the south. Hedouville s plan had already set out before Toussaint had been informed of it, therefore giving Toussaint no choice but to flee. The brutal fight that took place in 1799, conspired by Hedouville, ended in Toussaint s victory, once again proving his powerful persistence.

Toussaint controlled all of Saint Dominique by 1800. Still, his motivation towards freedom for all slaves led on. In the Spanish Santo Domingo, slavery continued, a fact which angered Toussaint. Hence, with his brilliant ability to lead his military effectively, Toussaint headed to Santo Domingo in 1801 and easily freed the slaves, ignoring warnings and orders against his actions from Napoleon Bonaparte. Toussaint later said, The colony of St. Domingo, of which I was commander, enjoyed the greatest tranquility; agriculture and commerce flourished. The island had attained a degree of splendor it had never before witnessed. And all this I dare say was my work. His management was indomitable.

In 1801, Toussaint L Ouverture reached his ultimate goal with a declaration of independence. Now reaching his ultimate status, Toussaint controlled the whole island of Hispaniola and appointed himself Governor General for life. A bit ironic, it seems, that someone so devoted towards the pursuit of freedom towards all slaves would give himself almost absolute power over a whole island and make Catholicism the state religion .

Every part of his conduct was marked by judgment and benevolence in person, Toussaint was a manly form, above the middle stature, with a countenance bold and striking, yet full of the most prepossessing suavity terrible to an enemy, but inviting to the objects of his friendship or his love. British admirer Marcus Rainsford wrote in An Historical Account of the Black Empire in Hayti (1805).

Toussaint L Ouverture was an exceptional leader. His ability to take charge and his influence on others are the reasons for his significant accomplishment of abolishing slavery. What he did is more easily told than what he was. Social historian James G. Leybum. The hero of the Haitian Revolution, Toussaint L Ouverture effectively applied his power as a political and military figure so that he could realize his ambition to free the slaves of Haiti.