The history of Africans in the Americas is as much a history of slavery as it is a history of resistance to enslavement. From the moment they set foot on American soil, Africans plotted against their masters. Haiti and Brazil were two regions where slavery was as especially important as it was harsh. An African, upon touching Brazilian soil, had a life expectancy of sixteen years-eight years if he was sentenced carrying coffee. (Conrad 125) One third of all Haitian slaves died within several years. (Klubock) Both nation

Boukman, who led the initial insurrection that led to the overthrow of whites in Haiti, was a high level slave. A foreman at his plantation, Boukman was also a Voodoo priest who conducted religious ceremonies in the countryside outside Le Cap. At these gatherings, he and other slaves were able to plan the simultaneous arson of the plantations of Le Cap (James 88).

Violence was also a common response to slavery in Haiti, where poisoning was frequent. (James 16) Often used in individual acts of vengeance, poison caused the deaths of masters and slaves alike. One of the most common causes of poisoning was the master's taking of a slave's wife. Another cause was the jealousy of one the masters' slave concubines towards another.(James 16)

One notable insurrection scheme hatched inside a maroon colony was the plot to conduct the mass poisoning of whites. This scheme was the brainchild of the Mackandal, a maroon leader from Guinea. A political and religious figure, Mackandal claimed immortality and the ability to see the future. For six years he organized his plan to poison the whites and conquer Haiti. But, before he could bring his plan to fruition, he became drunk and was discovered. (James 21)

The execution of the plot didn't proceed precisely according to plan, with a particular plantation's slaves acting prematurely. However, within a month the slaves were able to take the countryside surrounding Le Cap. Toussaint L'Overture, who had been a cattle manager for his master, joined the revolution at this point and later became its leader.(James 88)

In addition to individual acts of murder, poisoning was employed by the slaves to accomplish larger goals. Younger children of an owner were poisoned in some instances, so as to keep the entirety of the plantation included in a single inheritance. The murder of slave children also served the larger purpose of keeping their own population in check, thereby preventing their master from embarking on schemes to increase production, and therefore demands for labor. (James 16)

However, The ties to plantation slaves in Haitian maroon colonies were stronger than those maintained by the Brazilian quilombos. Slaves would frequent maroon colonies to attend maroon religious festivals and dances, and members of maroon colonies would sometimes travel to plantations to meet with plantation slaves. Whereas Brazilian quilombos represented a retreat from Brazilian society, the Haitian maroons were a source of revolutionary energy and ideas. (Klubock)

Slave rebellions were also common to the Americas. Frequently, the goal of insurrection was not complete liberation from slavery, but rather improvement of the conditions under which the slaves labored. The participants of an 1806 Brazilian slave rebellion produced a peace proposal to the slave's master

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Approximate Word count = 1891
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)