Haiti's President Rene Preval, second from right, gestures during a ceremony marking Haitian Independence Day, in Gonaives, Haiti, Friday, Jan. 1,2010. Preval spoke in an annual address marking Haiti's Jan. 1, 1804 independence from France in a slave revolt At right, first ladytElisabeth Debrosse Defatour, second from left. Senate President Kelly Bastiert, and third from left, partially hidden. Senator Vori Latorture. "On this, the anniversary of Haiti's independence and the beginning of the New Year, we wish to express again to Haitians in both Haiti and the Diaspora the friendship of Canada, as well as our continuing commitment to contributing to the sustainable development of Haiti." cannon said.
After independence, many of the newly formed nations struggle to maintain their hard fought freedom, though there were many lingering colonial attachments; hostilities; and the difficulties that came with growing pains. Around 1789, the French Revolution was raging in France; two years later, a rebellion swept the northern part of the island like a massive tidal wave.
Toussaint Louverture was the leader of the Haitian Revolution. His military genius and political acumen led to the establishment of the independent Black state of Haiti. The success of the Haitian Revolution shook the institution of slavery throughout the New World. Toussaint Louverture began his military career as a leader of the 1791 slave rebellion in the French colony of Saint Domingue. He served from 1791-1803 and died in a French jail in 1803.
