24. Spreading Like Wildfire
As news of the slave uprising spread throughout Haiti, the number of rebellious slaves exploded. Within ten days, over 100,000 slaves had freed themselves by taking up arms for use against their masters, and most of northern Haiti had fallen under the rebels’ control. The rebels then marched upon Cap Francais, the seat of the colonial government, but they were thrown back by the whites, who organized themselves into militias.
As the slaves regrouped following their setback, the whites went on the counterattack and massacred about 15,000 blacks. Haiti had descended into a cycle of massacres and counter-massacres. It lasted until the colony finally gained its independence, and continued on for many years afterward.
Related: 6 Colonies That Gained Independence Following World War II.
