The Haitian Revolution started in August 1791, though just two years later, England was also involved, invading and occupying large parts of the island. By the time this decree was given, combatants included the British, French, free Blacks, People of Colour, and the recently liberated.
With the ongoing chaos and violence on Saint-Domingue, France sought to extend protection to the children of those living in Saint-Domingue whose children were being educated in France. The decree reads in part:
“The National Convention, after having heard its published relief committee on the temporary relief granted by the decree of 14 May 1792 (old style) to the children of the inhabitants of Saint-Domingue who are in France for their education, and whose parents have suffered from the latest troubles which agitated the colony, or perished there.”
“The children of the inhabitants of Saint-Domingue and all other French colonies aged less than 15 years, who are in France for their education, and whose parents suffered from the latest troubles … or of the invasion of the enemy will be received among the children of the fatherland.”
“The Commission of published relief will liquidate, according to the bases established by said law of 14 May, 1792, the arrears owed until today to the teachers who were responsible for caring for and raising the said children of colonists, below the age of fifteen.”
Sending children to France for the education was such common practice among elites in Saint-Domingue that even Toussaint Louverture’s sons were educated there during the revolution.
OCLC locates a single copy at the American Philosophical Society Library.
