Rousing the Revolution: The Role of Rhetoric in the Haitian and Cuban Revolutions

Revolutions face significant challenges—entrenched power structures, superior military forces, and deep-seated social injustices. While much focus is placed on the physical aspects of revolts, the role of rhetoric remains underexplored. This paper investigates the role of rhetoric in the Haitian and Cuban revolutions by examining the speeches of the Toussaint Louverture and Fidel Castro. Both leaders skillfully employed rhetorical techniques to rally support against global superpowers. Louverture emphasized universal rights to bridge divides between enslaved Africans and free people of color. Castro took a similar approach, referring to universal values such as “justice”, “freedom”, and “liberty”, but tied them around toppling a common enemy to appeal to the anti-dictatorship sentiments of Cuban citizens. Moreover, both leaders compared their revolutions to common allusions that their populace understood. Louverture’s use of biblical allusions and Castro’s reference to the Greco-Persian Wars fostered a collective sense of duty that extended beyond the revolution. To this extent, this comparative analysis highlights the use of rhetoric in the Haitian and Cuban revolutions and underscores the indispensable role of rhetoric in revolutions.