![]() ![]() Although Louverture did not sever ties with France in 1800 after defeating rival leaders among the Haitian revolutionary population, he promulgated an autonomous constitution for the colony in 1801 that named him as Governor-General for Life, even against Napoleon Bonaparte's wishes. Worried about the economy, which had stalled, he restored the plantation system using paid labor negotiated trade agreements with the United Kingdom and the United States and maintained a large and well-trained army. ![]() Throughout his years in power, he worked to balance the economy and security of Saint-Domingue. Louverture gradually established control over the whole island and used his political and military influence to gain dominance over his rivals. Initially allied with the Spaniards of neighboring Santo Domingo, Louverture switched his allegiance to the French when the new Republican government abolished slavery. At the start of the Haitian revolution he was nearly 50 years old and began his military career as a lieutenant to Biassou, an early leader of the 1791 War for Freedom in Saint-Domingue. During his time as a freeman he attempted to climb the highly stratified social ladder on the island, combatting racism whilst gaining and losing much wealth while working as a planter, slave owner, coachman, muleteer and miller across several plantations. He was a devout Catholic who became a freeman before the revolution and, once freed, identified as a Frenchman for the greater part of his life. Louverture was born enslaved on the French colony of Saint-Domingue, now known as Haiti. Louverture is now known as the "Father of Haiti". As a revolutionary leader, Louverture displayed military and political acumen that helped transform the fledgling slave rebellion into a revolutionary movement. During his life, Louverture first fought against the French, then for them, and then finally against France again for the cause of Haitian independence. François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture ( French: also known as Toussaint L'Ouverture or Toussaint Bréda – 7 April 1803) was a Haitian general and the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution. ![]()
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