The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution

British leaders, now eager to secure trading rights with San Domingo, expressed public support for Toussaint. Not wanting to hurt the colony’s relationship with France, which was still at war with England, Toussaint refused their offer of trade. When the British found out that Toussaint already had a trade agreement with the United States, they threatened further attacks unless Toussaint would allow them to trade under the same terms. He capitulated.

Pressure mounted for Toussaint to address Rigaud’s forces in the south. He began by trying to win over Beauvais, one of Rigaud’s generals. Torn, Beauvais left for France. Rigaud, similarly conflicted, submitted his resignation to Philippe-Rose Roume, the French commissioner. Roume rejected his resignation, and war broke out between Toussaint’s and Rigaud’s forces. Though he opposed Toussaint, Rigaud insisted that their disagreements were not motivated by race. Following a series of battles ending with a five-month siege at Jacmel, Toussaint took control of the south.

Napoleon Bonaparte, newly come to power in France, suspected Toussaint of harboring British sympathies. He officially allowed Toussaint to continue as governor but avoided taking sides and refused to respond to Toussaint’s letters. Instead, he sent a commission headed by Charles de Vincent. After meeting with Toussaint, Vincent visited Rigaud.