What was the impact of the French Revolution on French overseas territories?

The French Revolution, which began in 1789 and lasted for a decade, had a significant impact on French overseas territories. The revolutionaries' principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired people throughout the French Empire, and colonial subjects began to demand equal rights and representation.

The French Revolution's impact on slavery was particularly significant in the overseas territories. The revolutionaries' commitment to the abolition of slavery led to the establishment of the Committee of Public Safety, which sent commissioners to the colonies to enforce the abolition of slavery. In 1794, the National Convention abolished slavery in all French territories, including the colonies. However, slavery was later reintroduced under Napoleon Bonaparte, and it was not fully abolished in French colonies until the mid-19th century.

The French Revolution also had a significant impact on the political structure of French overseas territories. The colonies were granted representation in the French National Assembly, and colonial subjects were allowed to participate in the election of representatives. This led to the establishment of representative assemblies in many of the colonies, giving colonial subjects a voice in their own governance.

However, the French Revolution's impact on the overseas territories was not entirely positive. The revolution's emphasis on nationalism and the idea of a unified French nation often came into conflict with the desire of colonial subjects for greater autonomy and representation. This tension was particularly acute in Saint-Domingue, where the Haitian Revolution erupted in 1791, leading to the establishment of the independent state of Haiti in 1804.