Why did Guadeloupe’s white population decline during the French Revolution?

The decline of the white population in Guadeloupe during the French Revolution was primarily driven by the intense political and military conflicts of the era.1

In 1794, the island was occupied by British troops who were supported by French royalists. When the French revolutionary official Victor Hugues subsequently recaptured the territory, he implemented radical changes, including the abolition of slavery. During this period of upheaval, Hugues ordered the massacre of several hundred white planters. These violent events, coupled with the broader instability of the revolutionary period, led to a significant reduction in the number of white residents on the island.21