On this day, May 18, in 1804

Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself Emperor of France, just months after Haiti had defeated the French military and declared its independence. Haiti became the first nation to be formed from a successful slave revolt. Napoleon was threatened by what an Independent Black Republic meant for the future of France’s colonial rule, which was based on slave labor, and he was determined to regain power of Frances most profitable colony. During negotiations with Haitian leaders, one of Napoleon’s men was caught in Haiti with written orders to turn light and dark skinned Haitians against each other in order to weaken the revolt. Divide and Conquer; the ultimate tactic of oppressors.