Sonthonax abolished slavery in the Northern Province on August 29, 1793.

Evidence

On August 24, at an open meeting in Le Cap, 15,000 “souls” voted in favor of the emancipation of the slaves of the north. Finally, on August 29, when Sonthonax issued a decree that began “Men are born and live free and equal in rights,” all who were “currently enslaved” in the Northern Province were declared free. They would “enjoy all the rights attached to the quality of French citizenship.” Slavery had been abolished in the richest region of Saint-Domingue, on the plains out of which the revolt of 1791 had emerged, in the mountains that had served as “boulevards of liberty” to the insurgents. The specter of liberty that had loomed over Saint- Domingue for years, haunting and taunting masters and slaves, had become a reality. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 563

Categorization

• XREF: This decree predates the French National Convention’s general emancipation by months; key date for the revolution’s narrative arc. — connects to: Sonthonax decreed general emancipation for Saint-Domingue’s Northern Province in August 1793.; Sonthonax initially defended slavery as necessary to colonial prosperity.; Louverture proclaimed liberty the same day Sonthonax abolished slavery but against him
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 563

Broader Connections

• Sonthonax decreed general emancipation for Saint-Domingue’s Northern Province in August 1793. #corroborates (1.00)
• Louverture proclaimed liberty the same day Sonthonax abolished slavery but against him #corroborates (0.70)
• Sonthonax initially defended slavery as necessary to colonial prosperity. #qualifies (0.60)