HST 323 - Race and Revolution

Course Units: 1.0

This course examines the American Revolution and the Haitian Revolution. With regard to the former, it addresses the “Jefferson question” - that is, how could the author of the Declaration of Independence be the owner of over 200 slaves. Therefore, it deals with competing interpretations in the Early American Republic of the Ideology of “liberty” and “equality.” Next, the course delves into the far more radical Haitian Revolution, the only successful slave revolution in history. It will deal with the influences of the American and French revolutions on the French New World colony of St. Domingue that made the Haitian revolution possible. Finally, the course examines the impact of the Haitian Revolution on slavery and the anti-slavery movement in the United States. Prerequisite(s): Any 100-level or 200-level history course or permission of the instructor. CC: LCC, SOCS ISP: AFR, AMS, LAS