population.
Despite starting small economically, the island of Saint Domingue (now known as Haiti), developed to be one of the richest islands in the world, with a really organized, yet unfairly divided society. Before The Revolution, the Island of Saint Domingue was used as a Pirate outpost. Later, the French convinced these pirates to give up piracy and settle on the Island. The pirates accepted and used their wealth to create large plantations. In these plantations, a massive amount of sugar was produced in extremely low working conditions (Crash Course). Soon, Saint Domingue was trading so much of this sugar, that it became one of the most valuable islands in the world. Though being wealth was a big achievement, it also came with a downside. The Island had the second largest slave count in the world after Brazil. By the 18th century, more slaves were brought in from Africa every year, than the entire white population of the island. Constantly raising by these numbers, by the 19th century the island’s population consisted 90% of slaves (Crash Course). These slaves lived under terrible conditions. Yellow fever, small pox, and miserable working conditions did not allow growth of the slave population through reproduction (Crash Course). The population growth was only caused by new imports. Plantations were known to have up to 200 slaves. This harsh slavery created separations in the social classes of Saint Domingue. At the time, colonial society was divided into 4 groups:
In the highest positions came the White Planters. These were the wealthiest, since they were the ones who owned the plantations, and the slaves.
Next, came the free people of color. This Social class was created by children of the white men and slave women. This children were often freed from slavery by their fathers, since they were higher in the social ladder. The wealthy free people of color even could own plantations and slaves of their own.
Then came the Petit Blancs, which is French for the “poor whites”. The petit blancs were often shopkeepers, artisans, and teachers.
Last in the hierarchy came the slaves, who were brought in from Africa to work in the sugar plantations. They slaves had extremely poor working conditions and they weren’t payed for their labor. (Crash Course)
All of these social separations played a huge role later on, which would later influence the revolution.
Explanation: that is good right lol
