The Opportunity; or, reasons for an immediate alliance with St. Domingo

Having predicted Haiti's struggle for independence in The Crisis of the Sugar Colonies, James Stephen went on to write this book three months after Haitian independence had been declared by the former French colonial slaves. In it, he argues that firsthand knowledge and aversion to slavery made the Haitian army unbeatable, & proclaims the "invincibility of freedom" (9). Stephen recommends to the new British government to recognise and guarantee Haitian freedom from the French. Within Europe's changed political context, he argues, the old colonial alliances were no longer functioning: "broken by the same shock that overthrew the social edifices of Europe" (12). He suggests that Britain should initiate trading links with the new state, and protect the West Indian colonies by establishing friendly relations with Haiti. However, in order to achieve these positive outcomes, Stephen stresses that the "horrible iniquity of the slave trade" (146) must be abolished.

By the author of The Crisis of the Sugar Colonies (attributed to abolitionist James Stephen). Prefaced by a dedication to William Pitt. The speech of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, translated into English as 'Liberty or Death! - Native Army', and published in The Sun, April 28 1804, is reprinted as an appendix to the text (149-56).

  • Date : 1804
  • Surname : Stephen
  • First name : James
  • Classification : Book
  • Place of publication : London
  • Publisher : J. Hatchard
  • Language : English
  • Theme : Abolition Campaigns
  • Source : St John’s College, University of Cambridge. Goldsmiths' Library of Economic Literature, University of London. British Library.
  • Weblink : http://www.archive.org/stream/opportunityorre00stepgoog#page/n5/mode/2up
  • Documents :
  • Key words : Opportunity Alliance St. Domingo Domingue Haiti Dessalines Slavery Revolution Politics France

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