Chapter 18

In Chapter 18 of Bury the Chains, Hochschild explores the other aspect of the anti slavery movement, not the publications but the violent revolts. He writes about the French colonies in the Caribbean and the violence that broke out there on August 22; slaves, both free and not, attacked plantations, crops, cities, families, and everything they could. He writes how the "white refugees" fled to the north and tried to seek sanction from the French soldiers, ironic because of the French Revolution occurring simultaneously, virtually perpetuating the slaves thoughts of freedom. St. Domingue had the largest and harshest slavery institutions of that time, sending much of it's wealth back to France and Louis XVI. After the revolt, news spread rapidly back to Europe and to Britain, causing tension and anxieties of what could happen in their new world colonies. They soon sent troops to the French colonies to relieve them, but they were once again met by opposition. Toussaint L'Ouverture, the leader of the revolts was once again ready for action. After a while the British began to realize that their fighting was doing little to help and finally in 1798 they gave up.