In 1791, enslaved Africans on the French sugarcane plantations of Saint Domingue rebelled. For over 13 years, they fought to free themselves from slavery and from France.
It was the biggest slave revolt in history, with nearly half a million enslaved persons rebelling against their French owners. In 1804, Saint Domingue became the independent nation of Haiti (Arawak for “higher place”). Along with the U.S. and France, Haitians established one of the first democratic republics. Haiti was the first Caribbean nation to become independent. Today, there are 15 other independent countries. But independence has not always meant freedom from interference. Since the late 1800s, the U.S. has interfered in the affairs of Caribbean nations several times.
