<P> The primary adversary of the gens de couleur before and into the Haitian Revolution were the poor white farmers and trademen of the colony, known as the petits blancs (small whites). Because of the freedmen's relative economic success in the region, the white farmers often resented their social standing and worked to keep them shut out of government . Beyond financial incentives the free coloreds caused the poor whites further problems in finding women to start a family because the successful mulattoes often won the hands of the small number of eligible bachelorettes on the island . With growing resentment, the working class whites monopolized assembly participation and caused the free people of color to look to France for legislative assistance . </P> <P> The free people of color won a major political battle on May 15, 1791 when the National Assembly in France voted to give full French citizenship to free men of color . The decree restricted citizenship to those persons who had two free parents . The free people of color were encouraged, and many petits blancs were enraged . Fighting broke out over exercising the National Assembly's decree . This turmoil played into the slaves' revolts on the island . </P> <P> In their competition for power, both the poor whites and free coloreds enlisted the help of slaves . By doing this, the feud helped to disintegrate class discipline and propel the slave population in the colonists to search further inclusion and liberties in society . As the slave rebellion in the north of the island wore on, many free people of color abandoned their earlier distance from the slaves . A growing coalition between the free coloreds and the former slaves was essential for the eventual success of the Haitians to expel French influence . </P> <P> However, the former slaves and the anciens libres remained segregated in many respects . Their animosity and struggle for power erupted in 1799 . The competition between the gens de couleur led by André Rigaud and the black Haitians led by Toussaint Louverture devolved into the War of the Knives . </P>

Who were the gens de couleur who demanded political rights in haiti