1804–1820: (Early Independence and the Mandate of Liberty): Following the final collapse of the colony, the book examines the first sixteen years of sovereig…

1804–1820: (Early Independence and the Mandate of Liberty): Following the final collapse of the colony, the book examines the first sixteen years of sovereign life under the theme “We Must Live Free or Die”. This period covers the formal declaration of independence in 1804 and the early attempts at building a new national structure. It details the transition of the republic into the Northern kingdom under Henry Christophe. The authors track the development of the nation up until the year 1820, marking the conclusion of the first generation of independent leadership. This chapter encapsulates the intense desire for permanent autonomy that defined the new state.