The Importance of the Haitian Revolution and Michel-Rolph Trouillot’s Silencing the Past

The Haitian Revolution was a forgotten event in history throughout most of the world, but this knowledge was hidden for many years. This idea of "silencing" that Michel-Rolph Trouillot proposes in his works creates a problematic view upon the global connections of the world in the past, and even now. This idea is that powers of the world can omit details, influence, and fine tune the generally accepted idea of what falls into "history." The silence cast upon such large events important to world history and pertinent to globalization, specifically the Haitian Revolution, is terrifying; the only thing that can be done to fix this issue is to do as Trouillot does, to bring these events to light.

The Haitian Revolution was an event very important in the landscape of globalization, occurred around the same time as the French and American revolutions, and therefore was overshadowed heavily. This overshadowing is best put as to say that, "as sources fill the historical landscape with their facts, they reduce the room available to other facts." (Trouillot 49). He then goes on to discuss the problematic recording of history by individuals.

In this, he mentions that even silences are necessary, as without them it would be impossible to understand anything that happened (Trouillot 50). The inclusion of other revolutions close to the Haitian Revolution were simply in relation to the fact that they simply affected the "chronicler" directly. The event was unbelievable to the French when news broke to them in 1791, and thus many historians did not include it. This allowed it to fade, and after time had passed, and it had been so close to the French and American Revolutions, it began to morph into what historians believed rather than what actually had happened.

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Furthermore, this revolution had significant impacts on what could spell disaster for the slave trade so heavily abused by Colonies at this time, and this knowledge could not spread without diminishing safety and power held by the elite at this time. The power behind knowledge is frightening. and for information to have spread about a slave revolution and the idea that it could occur could not only cause panic in the owners, but could inspire the slaves. Hiding these facts, silencing this part of history, was a tactical move by those in power. The only place where this history was accurately written was in Saint-Domingue, and elsewhere it was silenced.

The true reason behind its silence is not known, but it can be assumed to be related to the powerful people in the biggest countries. However, "power does not enter the story once and for all... In history, power begins at the source." (Trouillot 28-29). This statement is especially powerful when accounting for how the revolution is viewed now against how it was viewed when it occurred. At the time, it was considered to not even be truly possible and now it is seen as such a powerful event that it is said to have influenced all places that practiced slavery.

Finally, the power behind such an event as the Haitian revolution is relevant to globalization, even through its attempted silencing. The revolution was such a massive uprising that not only did it overthrow the institution of slavery, but overthrow the French colonization and become an independent land. It could have influenced all slaves had the history not been hidden for so long. Not only did it have a strong effect through being the most successful slave uprising in history, but it also shaped France's future. France was the most invested western country in Saint-Domingue, and during the revolution lost 19 of its Generals, including Napoleons brother in law. This loss not only spelled disaster for France's army, but ended their dreams of the American mainland expansion, and prompted the Louisiana Purchase. (Trouillot 99-100).

This effect upon France, this effect upon the world shows exactly what was discussed so thoroughly in class, the effect and development of international power and influence of a country. A colony, Saint-Domingue, held such an influence upon so much of the world simply through its inception of becoming an independent country. While obvious that it is not an emerging economic market, and not the most powerful of all countries, it had such great effects upon some of the largest at the time of its beginning, hurting France, which in turn benefitted America so significantly.

Only cause panic in the owners, but could inspire the slaves. Hiding these facts, silencing this part of history, was a tactical move by those in power. The only place where this history was accurately written was in Saint-Domingue, and elsewhere it was silenced. The true reason behind its silence is not known, but it can be assumed to be related to the powerful people in the biggest countries. However, "power does not enter the story once and for all... In history, power begins at the source." (Trouillot 28-29). This statement is especially powerful when accounting for how the revolution is viewed now against how it was viewed when it occurred. At the time, it was considered to not even be truly possible and now it is seen as such a powerful event that it is said to have influenced all places that practiced slavery.

Finally, the power behind such an event as the Haitian revolution is relevant to globalization, even through its attempted silencing. The revolution was such a massive uprising that not only did it overthrow the institution of slavery, but overthrow the French colonization and become an independent land. It could have influenced all slaves had the history not been hidden for so long. Not only did it have a strong effect through being the most successful slave uprising in history, but it also shaped France's future. France was the most invested western country in Saint-Domingue, and during the revolution lost 19 of its Generals, including Napoleons brother in law. This loss not only spelled disaster for France's army, but ended their dreams of the American mainland expansion, and prompted the Louisiana Purchase. (Trouillot 99-100).

This effect upon France, this effect upon the world shows exactly what was discussed so thoroughly in class, the effect and development of international power and influence of a country. A colony, Saint-Domingue, held such an influence upon so much of the world simply through its inception of becoming an independent country. While obvious that it is not an emerging economic market, and not the most powerful of all countries, it had such great effects upon some of the largest at the time of its beginning, hurting France, which in turn benefitted America so significantly.

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