1791

February 25

Vincent Oge and Jean-Baptiste Chavannes, two mulattoes who fought for equal political rights with the whites on behalf of the Affranchis (mulattoes and free blacks) in the colony, are executed.  After unsuccessful attempts to obtain their claim through diplomatic means, they resort to force by leading several slaves to revolt and arming four hundred  Affranchis against the colonial government.  They are defeated by the colonial army and condemned to torture of wheels in the public square of Cap Francais.

  August 7

An important number of Affranchis (mulattoes and free blacks) gather at St.Louis of Mirebalais Church (Central Region) to discuss their political action.  They demand equal political rights with the whites and create a committee of forty members: Council of the District Representatives, Conseil des Representants de la Commune.  The President of the committee is the mulatto Pinchinat.

 August 14-15 (night)

The rebellious slave leader Boukman organizes the Bois-Caiman ceremony during which hundreds of slaves swear to die for their liberty.

 August 20

Hundreds of Affranchis or freed people and three hundred slaves named “the Suisses” gather at the Diegue Habitation, located within a short distance from Port-au-Prince, to fight the white resistance and to win their political rights.  The Affranchis win the battle called the Battle of Pernier.  The slaves will later be abandoned by the Affranchis, and some of them deported and assassinated by the whites.

 August 22

Slave leaders Boukman, Jean-Francois Jeannot and Biassou conduct a major revolt in which Boukman is killed.

 September 24

The Concordat of Damiens (Damiens’ Agreement) through which the whites grant political rights to the Affranchis is signed.

 End of November

The First Civil Commission arrives from France into the Colony.  It is made up of three members: Roume, Mirbeck, and Saint-Leger.  The commissioners land at the city of Cap Francais with the mission to evaluate the political situation and re-establish peace and order.

1792

September 18

The Second Civil Commission arrives in Cap-Francais with the mission to execute the law of April 4, 1492, which grants political rights to all Affranchis.  The Second Civil Commission is composed of Sonthonax, Polverel and Ailhaud.

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