Summary

Toussaint prepares to sweep the British commanders, Pitt and Dundas, out of Haiti for good. Promising soldiers full citizenship within France, Toussaint quickly wins a string of victories. Meanwhile, the directory in France is concerned with Toussaint’s assertiveness and the fact that, by 1798, he had “the confidence of whites, Mulattoes, and blacks” (203).

Having seen how powerful Toussaint was on the island, Maitland, a “prejudiced Englishman” (211), called a meeting with Toussaint nonetheless. Toussaint rejected the meeting, knowing that the blacks in San Domingo had become a powerful force. The British backed off, and Hedouville, France’s representative, made steps towards restoring civil authority on the island. Hedouville attempted to rein in Toussaint’s authority and made several missteps. Thus, Toussaint sent Hedouville back to France and began working on a satisfactory relationship for both France and the colony...