1790–1791: A French navy lieutenant predicted that the urban petits blancs in the Caribbean would serve as a primary element of propaganda for revolutionary …

1790–1791: A French navy lieutenant predicted that the urban petits blancs in the Caribbean would serve as a primary element of propaganda for revolutionary agitation. He characterized this diverse group of adventurers as the “refuse of all nations” whose presence in port cities favored the spread of radical ideas. The governor of Martinique even breathed a sigh of relief when these restless whites departed for Saint-Domingue to seek “licentious liberty.” These mobile adventurers became vital vectors for the political currents that would eventually ignite the entire Atlantic basin.