It takes a certain type of person to be driven to point themselves and others in the right direction. This type of person is called a leader. Leaders are people who want to achieve success and command and organize groups to do so. One person that was a great leader was George Washington. George Washington is remembered for being an amazing leader and military commander for America. He was a good leader and military commander because he was the reason for America's success in the revolutionary war. He was also the first president to be elected in 1789 by the public and politicians.Despite the fact that George Washington owned slaves he was still a very a good leader. Just like George Washington, Toussaint Louverture is also remembered as a great leader. Remembered means to think about something that happened in the past. Toussaint Louverture’s most important quality that he is remembered for is being a liberator of slaves but he also remembered for being a military commander and ruler of Saint Domingue.
Toussaint Louverture had many different qualities he is remembered for but the most important quality he has is being a liberator of slaves. Toussaint Louverture saw all men as equal and did not like how people owned slaves. When Toussaint became the ruler of saint Domingue he make sure to put slavery to stop on his land.”There cannot exist slaves in this territory, servitude is there in forever abolished. all men are born, live and die free and French (Doc C).” Toussaint Louverture wants the slaves to live a good life like everyone else. Toussaint abolished forever in Saint Domingue.He writes his opinion in a letter to the French directory saying “Could men who have once enjoyed the benefits of liberty look on calmly while it is taken from them! (Doc B). ” What Toussaint is saying is that people could never become slaves calmly again. This evidence shows that Toussaint Louverture is remembered as a liberator of slaves because he was always protecting the slaves and had their best interest in mind.
The second most important quality Toussaint Louverture is remembered for is being a military commander.Toussaint Louverture is remembered for being a military commander because he was willing to fight. He took on the position to order people around in the revolt the broke out in the northern plain in 1801.”Toussaint ordered Moyse’s arrest and had him confined in the fort of Port de Paix(Doc E).” Although it was harsh of Toussaint to kill his nephew it showed everyone that Toussaint was a strong military commander and put all relationships aside. Many soldiers respected Toussaint for his characteristics. Some of his characteristics include “His race,his humanity, generosity, and courage (Doc F).” These traits show that Toussaint is remembered as a military commander because he treated his soldiers with respect and they did the same to him. Another reason why Toussaint is remembered for being a military commander for is for being smart and protecting his army during times of danger. “ Toussaint and his generals at once abandoned the towns, and betook themselves to the mountains (Doc F).” Revolutions are always known to be taken place in cities but Toussaint wanted his army to be safe so he took them to the mountains. He knew that if he did this the revolution would not destroy their city.This evidence shows that Toussaint Louverture is remembered as a military commander because he was always doing what was best for his army and protecting them.
The third most important quality Toussaint Louverture is remembered for is being a ruler of Saint Domingue. Toussaint Louverture is remembered for being a ruler of Saint Domingue because he set laws and was a leader of Saint Domingue. In Article 28 it states “ The constitution nominate citizen Toussaint- Louverture, Chief general of the army of Saint Domingue and...he is entrusted the direction thereof for the remainder of his glorious life (Doc C).” That means that he was well liked and had a lot of power in Saint Domingue. Another reason why Toussaint Louverture is remembered for being a ruler of Saint Domingue is because he established punishments for being who did not follow the laws. One example of a situation of a crime would be “ Any manager or driver of a plantation upon which a foreign cultivator [field worker from another plantation] shall have taken refuge shall denounce him to the captain or commander of the section within 24 hours under penalty of one week in prison ( Doc D).” This shows that Toussaint Louverture was a very serious man when it came to punishments for slave owners. This evidence shows that Toussaint Louverture is remembered as a ruler of Saint Domingue because he had a lot of power of people and took his job seriously.
Although Toussaint Louverture is mainly known for being a liberator of slaves he is also a military commander and a ruler of Saint Domingue. He succeeded in abolishing slavery in Saint Domingue forever. He was also always willing to fight and had a strong army. Lastly he established punishments for slave owners and made laws. Toussaint Louverture accomplished a lot during his lifetime in Saint Domingue.
Bibliography:
(A) Document A, Timeline of Abolition in Saint Domingue, Created from various sources
(B) Document B, Toussaint Louverture, “Letter to the French Directory, November 1797.”
(C) Document C, The Saint Domingue Constitution of 1801. Signed by Toussaint Louverture in July 1801
(D) Document D, Toussaint Louverture, “Proclamation, 25 November 1801.”
(E) Document E, Madison Smartt Bell, Toussaint Louverture: A Biography, 2007
(F) Document F, William Wells Brown, “A Description of Toussaint Louverture,” from The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements, 2nd edition. Engraving of Toussaint Louverture, 1802.
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