The Republic of Haiti has a unique and vibrant culture. It was once hailed as the "Pearl of the Antilles" for being the wealthiest colony in the world. This small Latin American island tells a story of slaves enduring resistance to the some of the most dominant forces abroad. In 1804, Haiti became the first free black republic and the second post-colonial country in the Americas. However, the days of being the wealthiest colony have since passed. Haiti is now considered to be the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. The proud history of this country is overshadowed by alarming rates of poverty, violence, and inequality. This island nation’s government has been plagued with numerous military staged coups and misfortunes. I …show more content…
The events that transpired in the late 1980s were a catalyst for the international community to intervene.
As an effort to promote democracy, the United States began influencing elections in Haiti (Torgman). In 1990 with pressure mounting from the International community, Haiti held a moderately fair presidential election. With over fifty percent of registered voter participation; of that sixty-seven percent of the voters supported the new Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. This was the first democratic election ever held in Haiti since it achieved independence (Torgman). Therefore, the Haiti election was a remarkable step towards democracy.
Nonetheless, the president's popularity faded soon after the election. Aristide lost support from bureaucrats and the military. The loss of control of the government and the lack of support resulted in a coup in 1991. The successful mutiny hurled the newly formed democratic nation back into familiar political turmoil just after nine months of Aristide being elected president. In response to the coup, the Organization of American States (OAS) suspended economic relations, while the United States responded by enforcing trade embargoes and freezing Haiti's accounts (Torgman). The OAS urged all neighboring states to isolate Haiti by instituting hemisphere-wide restrictions. The plan was implemented to restore democracy in Haiti but resulted in harmful
The Haitian Revolution was one of the most important slave revolts in Latin American history. It started a succession of other revolutionary wars in Latin America and ended both colonialism and imperialism in the Americas. The Haitian Revolution affected people from all social castes in Haiti including the indigenous natives, mestizos, mulattos and the Afro-Latin. The idea of starting a rebellion against France began with the colony’s white elite class seeking a capitalist market. These elites in the richest mining and plantation economies felt that the European governments were limiting their growth and restricting free trades. However, the Afro-Latin, mestizos and mulattos turned the Haitian Revolution into a war for equality and built a new state. The Haitian Revolution, with the support of it large slave population and lower class citizens, eliminated slavery and founded the Republic of Haiti. Tin this essay I will discuss how mestizos, mulattos and the Afro-Latin Americans population in Haiti participate in the fight for independence and how they creation of new republics.
Haiti had lots of challenges in running in their own government and remained unstable until today. Haiti was no longer protected by the French and were taken advantage of by other powerful countries. They were essentially trading one exploitive world power for another such as Germany who began to trade at unfair rates with the Haitian Republic. “But if the cost of maintaining power and continuing to enjoy the spoils of the state was the spoil of the nation, they were quite willing to sacrifice the nation.” (Trouillot, 1990). Merchants were fine with the financial, military and political instability of the Saint Domingue state, and had an interest in the succession politically because it meant that their jobs of exploiting the state would be more or less
During this time of seizure, the U.S was looking to create a more politically stable Haiti and also wanting to create a more secure control over the country. They also wanted to establish themselves in the Caribbean. There also was a need to integrate Haiti into the international Capitalist economy. But during this control over 3,000 Haitians were killed. The Marines installed a puppet president, denied the people of Haiti the freedom of speech, forced a new constitution upon them, and
Haiti is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It occupies one third of the Hispaniola Island, the other two thirds belong to its neighbor: the Dominican Republic. It measures 27, 750 sq km, just a little smaller than the state of Maryland. It is unfortunately located in a highly active hurricane area prone to storms and flooding between the months of June to October. Haiti is the poorest country of the western hemisphere. Political turmoil is part of the country’s history. Currently it counts with a democratically elected president, Michael Martelly, as Chief of State and a Prime Minister, Laurent Latmothe, as head of the government. A new president is elected every five years and the president cannot serve consecutive periods. The Prime Minister is appointed by the president and ratified by the National Assembly. The National Assembly is made up of 30 senators, elected by popular vote for six years terms and 99 deputies, also elected by popular vote, for four years terms; a little bit complex
The Dominican Republic and Haiti have had a resentment of one another for centuries. “It's an uneasy coexistence for countries whose intertwined histories of colonization, conquest and racism over the centuries have left deep wounds” (Castillo). The Haitian and Dominican relations have been disrupted and shattered since the 1400s, which has continued till today’s day in age due to the harsh treatment of Haitians, and the grudges each country has held over the centuries. This all began with the fight over the land of Hispaniola and the colonization between the Spanish and French. This has led to constant battles today between the two governments.
In the document titled “Rulers of Haiti, a list of each ruler from Emperor Jacques I to President Joseph Louis Borno, Haiti underwent frequent regime change. In a 30-year period (1858-1888), six out of eight Haitian presidents left office under the note “deposed by revolution.” Americans deemed political instability and violence consistent with uncivilized cultures. Consequently, Americans thought that Haitians lacked the capability of self-government, which permitted and justified a US invasion and occupation. Occupation became necessary as what Plummer referred to a “logical consequence” to Haiti’s turbulent political climate. Even Blacks welcomed the occupation for they could not longer abide and watch Haiti become an “embarrassment, and irritation” on the historical nature of Haiti’s existence: the only Black governed republic. However, this sentiment amongst Blacks did not last. Once they became excluded from political actions regarding Haiti, they began setting the foundations for opposition to the
Purpose: To understand how Haiti became what it is and all the trials it has endured
In order to understand Haiti we must first put ourselves in their shoes. At one stage or another, every man, woman, or child will be faced with at least one issue that is now happening in Haiti. The issues involving Haiti has been a popular topic for the past two years. Since January twelfth two-thousand and ten. There are many factors which influenced the development of Haiti. Many people have abandoned Haiti over the past years. They have also given up hope for Haiti. Haiti is heralded by economic issues both political and social, foreign issues, military issues (minustah), presidential issues, and the recent earthquake. I plan to explain each of these factors in detail and give
Christophe, Marc A. "Haiti." World Book Student. World Book, 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016. Summary: In the encyclopedia article, “Haiti,” Marc Christophe informs the audience about the country of Haiti. Christophe presents geographic information including location, population, land, history, and the national language of the country. The government is also briefly discussed, where he explains the former bloody dictatorships that have ruled the area since colonial times and left the country with serious economical and social issues that still exist today. The Parsley Massacre is mentioned as well, and described as a culprit for the racial problems between Dominicans and Haitians that are still a relevant problem now. Evaluation:
Haiti was once the first black independent republic in the world and the richest island in the Caribbean. Today Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world. What could have happened to Haiti in almost two hundred years of history? The country experienced repeated civil war and foreign intervention. Haiti is not isolated from the international world. Thus, it was not out of concern for ordinary Haitians that the United States intervened in Haiti. It was out of concern for profit and stability within the United States' own backyard. The purpose of this paper is to show the negative aspect that the United States had played in the government of Haiti.
The Haitian revolution had tremendous repercussions in the social, political and economic arenas of the world, but especially for the relationship with the neighboring nation of the Dominican Republic. In order to understand the development of the Dominican-Haitian relationship after the Haitian revolution one must examine how the two colonies of Hispanola dealt with each other before it. Throughout history there has been constant stress between the interactions of these nations, yet there is no easy explanation for what has caused it. In effect, it has been an accumulation of events which has allowed for the present relationship to evolve.
A Roman Catholic priest by the name of Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president of Haiti in late 1990. Political prisoners were set free and Duvailer's Tontons were disbanded. There was much hope for the government under the new presidency, but due to the lack of confidence from the military, Aristide was overthrown in 1991.
Haiti is the second largest Caribbean Island. It occupies a third of the western part of the island it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is also made up of several islands that surround the main territory. The capital is Port-au-Prince. It rains between November and March in the North of the island and between May and October in the South. “Once covered by forest, the country has been heavily logged for wood and fuel and to clear land for farming, and is now largely deforested.” Haiti is divided into “nine administrative departments.” Besides the capital, other important cities are Cap-Haitien and Gonaives. “Haiti is the most densely populated country in Latin America and has the lowest per
For the most part, the interaction between the colonizers of Haiti—the Spanish and the French—was negative, and lastingly so. Haiti has remained a turbulent and impoverished landscape. Social and economic indicators remain doggedly low, year after year. Haiti, although technically independent as of 1804, has never been able to support itself. There is a lot of heartfelt sympathy for Haiti, and the hope is that the legacy of colonization is not unending fate. But it will take a lot of work to get Haiti to a place of true freedom and independence, and sometimes outside help, however well intentioned, only unwittingly fuels the legacy.
From the very beginnings of the crisis in Haiti, we can see the various policies adapted by the three different presidents who held office in the U.S. Through the Reagan, Bush, and finally Clinton administrations, there is an evolution of policy from that of silence, to a gradual increase of concern, and ultimately an objective of restoring democracy in Haiti. However, the one thing that remained constant throughout each administration was the U.S. policy and practice of interdiction and repatriation of Haitian refugees. This policy was indeed successful in curtailing the influx of Haitians into the U.S. (Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Haiti, 1994).