Haiti declares a free republic for Haitian people

After 12 years of the Haitian revolution, Jean-Jacques Dessalines declares Haiti a free republic. Haiti was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent Black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion. The revolution had a huge influence, impacting slavery and abolition policies around the world and inspiring other slave revolts.