Haiti was a very profitable French colony during the 18th century, and its value to the French was primarily a result of its agricultural output and strategic location.
Natural Resources
The island had fertile soil, abundant water, and a tropical climate, making it ideal for the cultivation of various cash crops such as sugar, coffee, and cotton. These crops were in great demand in Europe and generated substantial profits for French plantation owners and merchants.
Slave Labor
To maintain the production of these lucrative crops, the French relied heavily on slave labor. The enslaved population, largely comprising Africans who had been transported to Haiti, worked under brutal conditions to produce the goods that enriched French colonial enterprises.
Strategic Importance
Haiti's strategic location also made it a valuable possession for the French. Hispaniola, the island that encompasses both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is situated in the Caribbean Sea, a region that was significant for trade and military influence during that era. Control over Haiti offered the French a base from which they could monitor and project power in the Caribbean and beyond.
Global Economics
The overall economic value of Haiti was primarily driven by global economic demands for the agricultural commodities it produced. The wealth extracted from the island played a crucial role in the overall economic strength of France and contributed significantly to its economic influence and power in the broader global context.