Question
SOURCE 1B
Toussaint L'Ouverture Addresses the French Directory (1797)
My attachment to France, my knowledge of the blacks, make it my duty not to leave you ignorant
either of the crimes which they [anti-Revolutionary White colonists] meditate or the oath that we
[formerly enslaved Africans] renew, to bury ourselves under the ruins of a country revived by liberty
rather than suffer the return of slavery. It is for you, Citizens Directors, to turn from over our heads the storm which the eternal enemies of our liberty are preparing in the shades of silence. It is for you to enlighten the legislature; it is for you to prevent the enemies of the present system from spreading themselves on our unfortunate shores to sully it with new crimes. Do not allow our brothers, our friends, to be sacrificed to men who wish to reign over the ruins of the human species.
Do they think that men who have been able to enjoy the blessing of liberty will calmly see it snatched
away? They supported their chains only so long as they did not know any condition of life happier than that of slavery. But to-day when they have left it, if they had a thousand lives, they would sacrifice them all rather than be forced into slavery again . . . France will not revoke her principles, she will not withdraw from us the greatest of her benefits . . . But if, to re-establish slavery in San Domingo, this was done, then I declare to you it would be to attempt the impossible: we have known how to face dangers to obtain our liberty, we shall know how to brave death to maintain it.
QUESTION 2
Refer to source 1B
1.2.1 . According to the source, what were the main motivations behind Toussaint Louverture's letter to the French director?
1.2.2. How does Louverture's letter reflect his stance on freedom and equality?
1.2.3 Define the term Liberty
1.2.4 How does the letter illustrate the relationship between Toussaint Louverture and France during this period ?
1.2.5 Using the relevant information in the source and your own knowledge, write a paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words), , discuss the historical context of the letter. What events led to its writing
Toussaint L'Ouverture Addresses the French Directory (1797)
My attachment to France, my knowledge of the blacks, make it my duty not to leave you ignorant
either of the crimes which they [anti-Revolutionary White colonists] meditate or the oath that we
[formerly enslaved Africans] renew, to bury ourselves under the ruins of a country revived by liberty
rather than suffer the return of slavery. It is for you, Citizens Directors, to turn from over our heads the storm which the eternal enemies of our liberty are preparing in the shades of silence. It is for you to enlighten the legislature; it is for you to prevent the enemies of the present system from spreading themselves on our unfortunate shores to sully it with new crimes. Do not allow our brothers, our friends, to be sacrificed to men who wish to reign over the ruins of the human species.
Do they think that men who have been able to enjoy the blessing of liberty will calmly see it snatched
away? They supported their chains only so long as they did not know any condition of life happier than that of slavery. But to-day when they have left it, if they had a thousand lives, they would sacrifice them all rather than be forced into slavery again . . . France will not revoke her principles, she will not withdraw from us the greatest of her benefits . . . But if, to re-establish slavery in San Domingo, this was done, then I declare to you it would be to attempt the impossible: we have known how to face dangers to obtain our liberty, we shall know how to brave death to maintain it.
QUESTION 2
Refer to source 1B
1.2.1 . According to the source, what were the main motivations behind Toussaint Louverture's letter to the French director?
1.2.2. How does Louverture's letter reflect his stance on freedom and equality?
1.2.3 Define the term Liberty
1.2.4 How does the letter illustrate the relationship between Toussaint Louverture and France during this period ?
1.2.5 Using the relevant information in the source and your own knowledge, write a paragraph of about EIGHT lines (about 80 words), , discuss the historical context of the letter. What events led to its writing
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### QUESTION 2
**1.2.1.** The main motivations behind Toussaint Louverture's letter to the French Directory were to inform them about the threats posed by anti-Revolutionary white colonists who sought to restore slavery in Saint-Domingue, and to assert the determination of formerly enslaved Africans to maintain their hard-won freedom. Louverture aimed to urge the French government to protect the principles of liberty and prevent the return of oppressive regimes that could undermine the revolutionary achievements.
**1.2.2.** Louverture's letter reflects his strong commitment to freedom and equality by emphasizing that he and his compatriots would rather die than return to slavery. He underscores the value of liberty, portraying it as a cherished condition that cannot be surrendered. His assertion that once people have tasted freedom, they will fiercely resist any attempts to strip it away, emphasizes the universal desire for autonomy and justice.
**1.2.3.** Liberty refers to the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. It embodies the concepts of freedom, autonomy, and the right to choose one's destiny without interference.
**1.2.4.** The letter illustrates a complex and ambivalent relationship between Toussaint Louverture and France during this period. While Louverture expresses loyalty to France and its revolutionary ideals, he simultaneously highlights the need for France to take decisive action to protect the freedom of the enslaved people in Saint-Domingue. This reflects a tension between mutual respect and the potential for conflict over differing visions of liberty and governance.
**1.2.5.** The historical context of Louverture's letter stems from the Haitian Revolution, which began in 1791 when enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue rose against their French colonizers seeking freedom and equality. The French Revolution of 1789 inspired these efforts as it proclaimed the values of liberty and human rights. The struggle continued through series of violent confrontations, culminating in Louverture's leadership, which sought to consolidate control over the colony while navigating France's changing political landscape. Tensions were heightened by the French government’s attempts to re-establish slavery, prompting Louverture's urgent appeal to the Directory in 1797 to safeguard their newfound liberties.
**1.2.1.** The main motivations behind Toussaint Louverture's letter to the French Directory were to inform them about the threats posed by anti-Revolutionary white colonists who sought to restore slavery in Saint-Domingue, and to assert the determination of formerly enslaved Africans to maintain their hard-won freedom. Louverture aimed to urge the French government to protect the principles of liberty and prevent the return of oppressive regimes that could undermine the revolutionary achievements.
**1.2.2.** Louverture's letter reflects his strong commitment to freedom and equality by emphasizing that he and his compatriots would rather die than return to slavery. He underscores the value of liberty, portraying it as a cherished condition that cannot be surrendered. His assertion that once people have tasted freedom, they will fiercely resist any attempts to strip it away, emphasizes the universal desire for autonomy and justice.
**1.2.3.** Liberty refers to the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. It embodies the concepts of freedom, autonomy, and the right to choose one's destiny without interference.
**1.2.4.** The letter illustrates a complex and ambivalent relationship between Toussaint Louverture and France during this period. While Louverture expresses loyalty to France and its revolutionary ideals, he simultaneously highlights the need for France to take decisive action to protect the freedom of the enslaved people in Saint-Domingue. This reflects a tension between mutual respect and the potential for conflict over differing visions of liberty and governance.
**1.2.5.** The historical context of Louverture's letter stems from the Haitian Revolution, which began in 1791 when enslaved Africans in Saint-Domingue rose against their French colonizers seeking freedom and equality. The French Revolution of 1789 inspired these efforts as it proclaimed the values of liberty and human rights. The struggle continued through series of violent confrontations, culminating in Louverture's leadership, which sought to consolidate control over the colony while navigating France's changing political landscape. Tensions were heightened by the French government’s attempts to re-establish slavery, prompting Louverture's urgent appeal to the Directory in 1797 to safeguard their newfound liberties.