The first country in the Caribbean to gain independence was Haiti, which declared its independence from France on January 1, 1804. Haiti's independence was the result of a successful slave revolt, which began in 1791 and lasted for over a decade. The revolt was led by Toussaint Louverture, who became the first president of Haiti. Haiti's independence was a major turning point in the history of the Caribbean, as it was the first country in the region to achieve independence from European colonial rule.