The French occupation of Haiti began in the mid-17th century. For the next century and a half, Haitians were forced to abandon their livelihoods and settle on sugar, indigo or cocoa plantations in order to generate exports for the French market. Living conditions on these plantations were often so cruel and oppressive that the common cause of death was exhaustion. No longer able to give in to the conditions of their exploitation, Haitians participated in a series of slave revolts, the most important of which was led by Toussaint Louverture from 1791, who paved the way for Haitian emancipation. This essay will advance the idea that colonialism hindered Haiti's political stability during the 19th century, particularly since the time Haiti officially declared its independence in 1804. It will address how issues such as; Despotism, conflicting economic institutions, militarization of the political system, and racial supremacy had a negative impact on 19th-century Haitian politics. Additionally, it will also explain how these issues are, in fact, insidious derivatives of French rule during Haiti's pre-independence period. The year 1804 marked not only the beginning of Haitian independence, but also the despotic reign of Jean Jacques Dessalines. Dessalines was originally a subordinate of Louverture himself, rising to power only after the arrest of his leader. His obsession with autocracy led him to crown himself "emperor" of Haiti later that year. Thus, all the cogs of the political system fell under the control of this one man. His word was law and his decisions were closely subject to discussion. Such is the rule of its iron fist that in 1891, a Haitian writer observed that: ...... middle of paper ......s and thus opened the way to foreign intervention. With this in mind, it is important to note that political insecurity stems from the solidification of color lines within Haitian society – which is not a new concept in Haiti. The question of racial supremacy was first raised by the French during colonial rule. The colonialists sincerely believed that they were the “superior” race in all forms and ways and so it was generally understood among them that “nothing good and civilized comes out” of their colonies (Nicholls 1993). Consequently, mulattoes, considering themselves closer to the French than their Haitian counterparts, enshrined and defended this point of view even long after the French occupation. For this reason, it is thanks to colonialism that there is a gradual erosion of Haiti's political autonomy at the end of the 19th century...