# Radical ruptures: the birth of a Black nation  
As gradual abolition progressed in the north of the United States, the climate of social unrest continued in continental France and its colonies in the West Indies. On the eve of the French Revolution, an organized abolitionist movement emerged in continental France with the creation of the Société des Amis des Noirs. In 1788, when the Estates General was called in France, the newly created society seized the opportunity to intensify anti-slavery propaganda. But as the French Revolution evolved it became clear that the establishment of equality of rights excluded the populations of colour and was not intended to end slavery in the colonies, because the institution generated immense profits for France. Even after the fall of the Bastille in July 1789, the National Assembly granted only white planters the right to vote for the permanent assembly in Saint-Domingue's elections of 1790. White planters and French revolutionaries refused to award political rights to the free population of colour.  
Eventually, Saint-Domingue's populations of colour initiated an anti-colonial rebellion. In 1791, a decree by France's National Assembly finally gave voting rights to free coloureds who owned property and were born of two free parents. Affected by the news of rapid changes brought by the French Revolution, SaintDomingue's enslaved population took the opportunity to join the struggle for freedom as well. Although the populations of colour were ready to fight the enslaved rebels, as their demands for political rights from the French National Assembly were denied, they decided to take arms against the white planters, taking the enslaved rebels as their allies (James, 1963, p. 89).