What event is recognized as the spark for the Haitian Revolution?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789 is recognized as a significant spark for the Haitian Revolution because it articulated the principles of liberty and equality that were emerging during the Age of Enlightenment. This declaration by the French National Assembly proclaimed fundamental rights for all men, which inspired enslaved and free people of African descent in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) to challenge the oppressive social and political structures they faced.

The ideals of the declaration resonated deeply with the aspirations of the enslaved population, who were subjected to brutal conditions under slavery and sought to assert their rights and freedoms. The proclamation's emphasis on natural rights provided a philosophical justification for their struggle against oppression. Thus, the events surrounding the French Revolution, particularly the dissemination of revolutionary ideas, played a crucial role in igniting the desire for reform and revolution in the Haitian context, eventually leading to the successful abolition of slavery and the establishment of Haiti as the first independent Black republic.

In contrast, while the Haitian Declaration of Independence marked the culmination of the revolution, it was not the initial catalyst. The Attack on the Bastille was significant in the wider French Revolution but had less direct influence on the events in Haiti at the time. The Abolition of Slavery itself occurred later and