A French Colony: Crops, Plantations, & Slaves
Haiti is located close to the equator so it has the nice humid climate. Now France could grow valuable cash crops that couldn't be obtained back home (such as sugar and coffee).
The French colonists in St. Domingue built huge plantations to accommodate economic needs. By 1789 the island would be the most money making out of the Caribbean Islands, and was the wealthiest of all the French colonies.
However, plantation owners needed workers for this hard labor. So they imported tons of slaves from West Africa. Once they arrived to the colony, slaves were branded, and beatings would occur for them constantly. In the hot climate of St. Domingue, slaves would have to wear tin plate masks so that owners could insure that they wouldn’t eat any of the cane. Most slaves were also made to cultivate their own foods on Sundays, their only days off. Due to this harsh treatment, slaves were killed at an alarming rate.
The French colonists in St. Domingue built huge plantations to accommodate economic needs. By 1789 the island would be the most money making out of the Caribbean Islands, and was the wealthiest of all the French colonies.
However, plantation owners needed workers for this hard labor. So they imported tons of slaves from West Africa. Once they arrived to the colony, slaves were branded, and beatings would occur for them constantly. In the hot climate of St. Domingue, slaves would have to wear tin plate masks so that owners could insure that they wouldn’t eat any of the cane. Most slaves were also made to cultivate their own foods on Sundays, their only days off. Due to this harsh treatment, slaves were killed at an alarming rate.