1791–1804: The St.-Domingue Revolution significantly altered the geographic center of gravity for the entire transatlantic slave trade by closing the largest…

1791–1804: The St.-Domingue Revolution significantly altered the geographic center of gravity for the entire transatlantic slave trade by closing the largest market in the Caribbean. Following the collapse of the French plantation regime, the volume of captives diverted to other American regions, particularly Brazil and Cuba, saw a massive increase. This shift effectively moved the focus of the trade southward, away from West Africa and toward West Central Africa. While the revolution was not primarily aimed at suppression, the emergence of an independent Haiti and its navy actively capturing slave ships served as a new deterrent in the region.