Do they think that men who have been able to enjoy the blessing of liberty will calmly see it snatched away? They
supported their chains only so long as they did not know
any condition of life more happy than that of slavery. But
to-day when they have left it, if they had a thousand lives
they would sacrifice them all rather than be forced into
slavery again. But no, the same hand which has broken
our chains will not enslave us anew But if... this was
done, then I declare to you it would be to attempt the
impossible: we have known how to face dangers to obtain
our liberty, we shall know how to brave death to maintain
it.
- Toussaint Louverture,
Letter to the French Directory, 1797
Which statement summarizes Louverture's central idea
in this letter?
Indigenous people can be enslaved, but not
mulattos.
O Liberty for mulattos and indigenous people will take
many years
O Freed men and women can never return to being
enslaved
O Enslavement is causing many deaths for mulattos.
P