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Jan 1, 1491
Pre-Colonial Haiti
Haitit was populated by the Taíno, Haiti's original indigenous people, who reportedly called their island either Ayiti, Bohio, or Kiskeya. -
Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
History of Haiti
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Dec 5, 1492
Haiti 'Discovered'
Christopher Columbus happened stumbled upon Haiti when he first came to the Americas while trying to find India. He claimed Haiti for the Spanish Crown, and promptly renamed it La Isla Española ("the Spanish Island"). -
French Take Control of Haiti
Frenchman Governor Jeremie Deschamps takes control of Haiti from the British since he agrees to do as the British tell him too, then proclaims Haiti for the King of France, He then set up French colours, and defeated several English attempts to reclaim the island. It is from this point in 1660 that unbroken French rule in Haiti begins. -
Revolutionary Period
Haitians finally win a long, hard fought war against their French captors and drive the French off declaring themselves an independent nation. The French however force Haiti to pay massive reparations for their freedom which has forever impoverished Haiti. -
The Earthquake
A deadly earthquake strikes the heart of an already impoverished Haiti, killing thousands and leaving even more homeless. The quake also led to a cholera outbreak which killed thousands more. Recovery from the quake has been slow and is still happening now. -
2011 Elections
The most recent presidential elections for Haiti were filled with controversy and fraud, but in the end Michel "Sweet Mickey" Martelly came out on top and is currently preesident of Haiti.
