After taking over for Haitian liberator Toussaint L’Ouverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines vowed to continue the liberators actions and keep Haiti free. The Haitian revolution in 1791 was led by L’Ouverture and was in the making for a while. After the fall of the French Monarchy during the French Revolution, many slaves and freedmen on the island began to question their freedom and rights. Fearing further retaliation, Napoleon freed the slaved on the island in an effort to retain power. After defeating both the British and Spanish on the island of Hispaniola, L’Ouverture was exiled in Europe in 1802 and died approximately a year later.

His radical second-in-command Jean Jacques Dessalines took over in 1803, and fought off another French invasion in that same year. After the victory over the French, Dessalines wrote his proclamation, Liberty or Death. This was meant to act as both a deterrent for nations that want to colonize the island, as well as a declaration of the values and ideals held by the new leader of Haiti, and his follower.

In essence, the main argument of Liberty or Death is simply stating that Haiti is now a sovereign nation, free of slavery and tyranny of any kind, and will not stand for any attempt of colonization. He also calls upon the people to work to “protect their own salvation,” which further emphasizes the point of a sovereign free nation.

I find the argument to be very strong. In terms of its delivery and language, Dessalines is very clear about what he wants, and how he plans to safeguard it. For example: “Our daggers are sharpened, your punishment is ready! Sixty thousand men, equipped, inured to war, obedient to my orders, burn to offer a new sacrifice to the names of their assassinated brothers. Let that nation come who may be mad or daring enough to attack me.” (Dessalines p.38). He states bluntly that he and his followers are willing to fight to the death to defend their land and avenge their fallen leader.

As for weak points about the argument, in my eyes there are none. Dessalines makes a good argument for freedom and the sovereignty of his people and the rights of man. Although this was published all over the world in various newspapers, and some stronger nations may find this a threat to their sovereignty and way of life. For example, this piece was published in the U.S. during a time when we still had slavery, which may have triggered more people to question the way of life in some parts of the country.

Looking back I definitely think that progress has been made. After this proclamation in 1803, many colonized nations became free and slavery was abolished all over the world. As for the sovereignty of Haiti, Dessalines legacy lives on, (although there have been some dictators in Haiti), the nation is free from colonization and a productive part of the global economy.