The New Leader
žFrançois Dominique Toussaint Louverture rose to high rank within the Spanish army
žHe switched to the French side (when
slavery was abolished) and was promoted to
general in 1795 by French
colonial officials.
žHe helped drive out
the Spanish.
žIn 1796 Toussaint ruled
the colony as the French governor-general.
žOver the next four
years, he forced the British troops to
withdraw and defeated his internal rivals, especially a mulatto group in the south that was destroyed in a bloody race war.
žHe conquered Santo
Domingo, the Spanish portion of
the island, abolished slavery there, and proclaimed himself governor-general of the island for life.
