Act of Independence (French)

French text of the Haitian Act of Independence (French: Acte de l'Indépendance de la Republique d'Haïti), declaring former Saint-Domingue independent from France. The declaration was drafted by Boisrond Tonnerre and read by Jean-Jacques Dessalines on the Place d'Armes of Gonaïves on January 1, 1804. This marks the beginning of independence for Haiti.