Toussaint Louverture (Issuing the First Constitution of Saint-Domingue [Haiti], 1801), Ulrick Jean-Pierre

Born a slave in Saint-Domingue, Toussaint Louverture (1743–1803) became one of the most well-known leaders of the Haitian Revolution. In 1793, he delivered a famous address forcefully advocating the elimination of slavery, declaring, “I want Liberty and Equality to reign in St. Domingue. I am working to make that happen. Unite yourselves to us, brothers and fight with us for the same cause.” Less than four months after this rallying speech, slavery was abolished in Haiti until Napoleon threatened to reinstitute it by drafting a new constitution for France’s colonies, including Saint-Domingue. To prevent the return of slavery to Haiti, Louverture drafted his own constitution that established his authority as “Governor-for-Life” over the entire island of Hispaniola. Although this document did not explicitly declare independence from France, it did guarantee the end of slavery and cemented Louverture’s status as a symbol of Haitian freedom.