White colonists blamed the Enlightenment for inspiring the slave revolt.

Evidence

Antoine Dalmas, our source on the Bois-Caïman ceremony, provided a list of the accused that included the entire Enlightenment. It began with the Société des Amis des Noirs, “who had as their avowed goal the loss of the colonies,” but continued with “those numerous sects” who called themselves “economists, Encyclopedists, etc.,” and who formed “a kind of Republic” that, to their great misfortune, had influenced the rulers of France. Those like Dalmas who made such claims implicitly viewed the slaves as capable of interpreting and transforming Enlightenment ideals, and of applying them to their own ends. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 354

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 354
• XREF: connects to: Enlightenment thinkers argued slaves had the right to violent resistance; Liberty itself, not outside instigators, incited the slaves to revolt

Broader Connections

• Liberty itself, not outside instigators, incited the slaves to revolt #responds-to (0.80)