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Dec 4, 1492
THE “BEGINNING” OF HISTORY
Christopher Columbus lands on what is now known as Hispaniola (the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and claims it for Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. While this has been regarded as the beginning of Haiti’s written history, the island had been inhabited by indigenous Taíno (who referred to the land as Ayiti) since the BC era and had a rich history long before Spanish conquest. -
Period: Jan 1, 1496 to
SPANISH COLONIZATION
n 1496, the first Spanish settlement on Hispaniola (and the first European settlement in the western hemisphere) is established in what is now the present-day Dominican Republic. Five years later, after all, but decimating the population of Taíno people, Spain brings 1,600 kidnapped and enslaved African people to the island to work in gold mines and on sugar plantations. -
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FRENCH COLONIZATION
The first French settlers establish a colony on Tortuga Island and in the northwestern area of Haiti’s mainland, naming the territory Saint-Domingue. In the latter part of the 17th Century, under Louis XIV, France authorizes the African slave trade in the territory and introduces the Code Noir, which did not further restrict the rights of enslaved people — as well as the rights of free people of colour — in all French territories. -
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REVOLUTION(S)
The Haitian Revolution was a successful slave uprising that occurred between 1791 and 1804. Led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, the slaves fought for their freedom and established Haiti as the first independent black republic in the world. The revolution was brutal and bloody, but its legacy continues to inspire people around the world to fight for their rights and dignity. We did not know the date and month -
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A FRACTURED PEACE AND CIVIL WAR
On January 1, 1804, Dessalines assumes the role of Governor-General. He declares himself Emperor later that year and is assassinated two years later. This leads to a Haitian civil war between the north and south that lasts until 1820. Reunification following the second peace excludes Black Haitians from power. for the end date, we did not find the month and the day -
INDEPENDENCE, BUT AT A COST
French King Charles X agrees to formally recognize Haiti as an independent nation, provided that the country pay 150 million francs in reparations to France (approximately $21 billion in today’s currency, according to Forbes). Haiti takes out high-interest loans from American, German, and French banks to cover the cost (approximately 80% of the country’s annual national budget and 10 times its annual revenue). We did not find the real date and day. -
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AMERICAN OCCUPATION AND THE PARSLEY MASSACRE
After a series of border disputes with the Dominican Republic and short-lived presidencies culminating in the assassination of leader Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam, the United States invaded Haiti in 1915 to protect its investments in-country. The United States withdrew its forces in 1934. Three years later Dominican forces under the orders of President Rafael Trujillo kill an estimated 30,000 Haitians living in the border zone between the two countries in what’s known today as the Parsley Massacre -
end of the final payment
In 1838, France reduces this debt from 150 million to 90 million francs (ca. $12.6 billion). The final payment on the double debt of Haiti’s reparations to France and its loans from the United States is made in 1947, nearly 150 years after independence.
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Reparation cost
HAITI’S INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE CAME AT A COST: REPARATIONS THAT COST THE COUNTRY APPROXIMATELY $20 BILLION THAT WERE PAID THROUGH HIGH-INTEREST LOANS. THE FINAL PAYMENT WAS MADE IN 1947. (We don't know the date and the month) -
FRANÇOIS “PAPA DOC” DUVALIER TAKES POWER
Shortly after Haiti celebrates 150 years of independence, Hurricane Hazel makes landfall in the country in October 1954, killing 1,000 and destroying coffee and cocoa crops at the beginning of harvest season. In 1957, following two failed elections, physician François “Papa Doc” Duvalier seized power. His cult of personality turns despotic the following year when he establishes death squads to silence his opponents. -
THE REIGN AND FALL OF JEAN-CLAUDE “BABY DOC” DUVALIER
Following Duvalier’s death, his 19-year-old son, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, assumed the title of president for life.
We did not now the real day and month -
End of the power whit papa doc
In 1964, Duvalier declares himself president for life, a title he maintains until his death in 1971. -
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LESLIE MANIGAT ELECTED AND OVERTHROWN
The elections of 1987 were delayed following the assassinations of two candidates and a massacre of Haitian voters. Military-run elections in January 1988 declared Leslie Manigat the winner. He was overthrown in a military coup led by Namphy six months later. In September, Namphy himself is overthrown by General Prosper Avril. -
ELECTED. EXILED. RE-ELECTED. RE-EXILED pt1
Avril resigns amid protests. Former Salesian priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide wins the country’s first free and peaceful democratic elections, with a reported 67% of the popular vote. His rule is interrupted in 1991 by a coup led by former Brigadier-General Raoul Cedras. Aristide is exiled until Cedras himself gives up power and enters exile in September of that year. -
ELECTED. EXILED. RE-ELECTED. RE-EXILED pt2
Aristide returns to power in 1994. His reforms included increasing access to healthcare and education (including adult education and literacy), improving the country’s judicial system and civil rights, doubling the minimum wage, food distribution to those suffering hunger and food insecurity, livelihoods support and training, and dissolving the military. -
Natural disaters pt1
Floods damage parts of the country early in 2004, a vulnerability that is further exploited that September by Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Jeanne. Jeanne kills at least 3,000 and leaves another 250,000 Haitians homeless. Flooding destroys key rice and fruit harvests. -
ELECTED. EXILED. RE-ELECTED. RE-EXILED pt3
After a presidential term by René Préval (1996-2000), Aristide is re-elected despite claims of fraud. Several failed attempts to overthrow Aristide’s government result in conflict across the country led by armed groups. Aristide is forced to resign in a 2004 coup and leaves for South Africa. A multinational UN Peacekeeping force returns to the country to maintain security and stability. -
Natural disaters pt2
Less than a year later, Hurricane Dennis kills 56 and causes an additional $50 million in damages for Haitians. 2008 sees a string of natural disasters within just one month, including Tropical Storms Fay and Hanna and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, destroying 25% of the country’s economy. -
EARTHQUAKE, CHOLERA, AND FURTHER INSTABILITY pt1
On the afternoon of January 1, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hits Port-au-Prince. The scale is unprecedented in an urban setting. While international donors pledge $5.3 billion to help Haiti rebuild, many fail to meet their commitments. Further issues with funds not making it to their intended uses continue to fuel popular dissatisfaction with leadership, especially when little progress has been made six months following the quake. -
Earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.0, caused extensive damage and left over 200,000 people dead. It had a significant impact on Haiti's already fragile economy, leaving many without basic necessities. Despite international aid, recovery has been slow, highlighting the need for disaster preparedness and continued support for vulnerable communities in the face of such devastating events. -
EARTHQUAKE, CHOLERA, AND FURTHER INSTABILITY pt2
The country is further overwhelmed by a cholera outbreak — the first of its kind on record, and regarded by many to be the worst in recent history. Lasting for years, cases number 820,000 and approximately 10,000 are killed. After a violent election cycle, Michel Martelly wins the presidency. He designates Jovenel Moïse as his party’s candidate at the end of his term. Moïse wins two elections, held in 2015 and 2016 respectively despite questions around their legitimacy, and takes office in 2017 -
HURRICANE MATTHEW HITS AMID A LAG IN FUNDING pt1
Hurricane Matthew makes landfall late in the season (October 4, 2016) and is the strongest storm to hit Haiti since 1964. In addition to destroying crops just before harvest time, it exacerbates the cholera epidemic, leaves 200,000 families without a home, and causes further damage to the country’s infrastructure. -
HURRICANE MATTHEW HITS AMID A LAG IN FUNDING pt2
Haitian civilians, especially the most vulnerable, suffer these consequences the most, especially amid a lack of humanitarian funding. In 2019, the United Nations reports only meeting 30% of its funding goals for Haiti as many donors fall behind on financial commitments.