The Haitian Revolution (French: Révolution haïtienne (ʁevɔlysjɔ̃ ajisjɛ̃n)) was a successful anti-slavery and anti-colonial insurrection by self - liberated slaves against French colonial rule in Saint - Domingue, now the sovereign nation of Haiti. It began on 22 August 1791 at 22: 00, and ended in 1804 with the former colony 's independence. It involved blacks, mulattoes, French, Spanish, and British participants -- with the ex-slave Toussaint L'Ouverture emerging as Haiti 's most charismatic hero. It was the only slave uprising that led to the founding of a state which was both free from slavery, and ruled by non-whites and former captives. It is now widely seen as a defining moment in the history of racism in the Atlantic World.
who led rebels in haiti to win independance from france
self - liberated slaves Toussaint L'Ouverture