View of the 40 days of fire of the plain houses at Cap-Français Contributor: Nantes History Museum, Castle of the Dukes of Brittany

Cap-Français is burning. The first uprising of the slaves burst forth on August 23, 1791, on the island of Saint-Domingue. The revolts, persisting until June 1792, unleased widespread fire and devastation. Peace returned during the summer of 1792, when the French government recognized political equality between whites and the gens de couleur. Under pressure exerted by the new elites, represented by black generals including Toussaint Louverture, the National Convention signed the decree for the abolition of slavery on February 4, 1794.