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In 1492, Christopher Columbus led the Spanish in establishing Hispaniola as the first colony in the New World.
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Between the 1500s and 1800s slaves are brought from West Africa to Saint Domingue via the Transatlantic Slave Trade bringing with them traditional African belief systems.
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In 1512, the first Africans were brought to Hispaniola.
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In 1658, there was the first recorded use of the word ‘Vodun’ in the Doctrina Christiana in the Dahomey Kingdom located in West Africa, current day Benin. In the Fon language, the word “vodun” translates to spirits, god, or supreme beings. The word and its meaning stuck with captured Africans as they were transported to Saint Domingue.
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In 1685, King Louis XIV of France declared Code Noir, a set of laws meant to govern and control the behavior of Slaves in French colonies. One of the laws were that slaves were prohibited to practice their traditional African religions.
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From 1719 to 1731, Louisianian Voodoo has its first beginnings as West African slaves bring their traditional belief systems with them to the French Louisiana colony.
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1724 is said to be the beginnings of syncretized Haitian Vodou. As slaves were unable to practice how they once did, they took Catholicsm and syncretized it with Vodun creating what is now known as Vodou.
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The Haitian Revolution began in 1791. Vodou played an essential role by providing an opportunity to meet and share ideas. Vodou became a safe space and support system for the oppressed. At the end of the revolution in 1804, Saint Domingue became Haiti, now independent from France.
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In 1803, the state of Louisiana was purchased by the United States from the French. Prior to then, slaves were held in uncompromising conditions, prohibited to gather in fear that they would conspire and revolt. No longer controlled by heavily religious French Europeans, Voodoo was able to be practiced more freely outside.
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After the Haitian Revolution, former slaves move to the American Gulf Coast, most notably New Orleans Louisiana. They brought with them Vodou, enriching the preexisting Louisiana Voodoo. Amongst them was Sanite' DeDe, the first Voodoo Queen.
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In 1805, back in Haiti, the Roman Catholic Church left. Vodou became the main religion practiced however was still subject to persecution.
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In 1817 Voodoo was outlawed in the city of New Oreleans because the public practicing and drumming regularly interrupted Catholic Mass.
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In 1847, Haitian President Faustin Soulouque acknowledged Vodou making it more accepted by the public.
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In 1860, A concordat was signed between the Roman Catholic Church and Haiti. Catholicism is made the official religion once again.
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From 1915-1934, the United States occupied Haiti. People grow interested in Vodou. US general Faustin Wirkus writes a biography (The White King of La Gonave (1931)) about his experience being welcomed in Haiti as “Faustin II,” allegedly being named King, and participating in a Vodou ritual. It was said the book was written for the purpose of appealing to an American audience and displaying the things he saw.
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During the occupation, thousands of Haitians left Haiti for Cuba and the American Gulf Coast. Haitian Vodou mixed with Cuban Santeria and even more with Louisiana Voodoo.
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The practice of Vodou was made illegal in 1934 during the United States occupation.
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Following national newfound interest in Vodou, films such as Voodoo Tiger (1952), Voodoo Woman (1957), and Macumba Love (1960) are released. These films depict black liberation efforts as violent, uncivilized, and threatening towards white people.
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People around the world take to recreating Vodou ritual tools. By the 1970s, such tools were commercialized and sold globally for decor rather than practice.
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In 1972, The New Orleans Historic Museum of Voodoo opened.
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In 1986 following the death of dictator Francios Duvalier, his son succeeded him and in signing a new constitution, never reestablished Catholicism as the main religion of Haiti. People continue to flee from Haiti.
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In 1987 Haiti is granted freedom of religion following the attacks of several Vodouists who supported the Duvalier dictator and son pair.
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In 2003, Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide recognized Vodou as an official religion. Vodou practitioners are now allowed to practice at public events like weddings and funerals.
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The 2010 Earthquake killed over 300,000 people and left 1,000,000 people homeless. Haitian people used Vodou to keep their faith. Those who left Haiti continued to perform rituals to feel solidarity. Vodou at this time nearly resembled its use during slavery where people looked around themselves to find answers and strength to deal with uncomfortable situations.
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While those associated with vodou turned to it for comfort following the 2010 Earthquake, other blamed the religion. US reverend Pat Robertson claimed Haiti had a "pact with the devil" and that is the reason it experienced such natural disaster in addition to cholera. This caused a large amount of violence to be taken out upon Vodouisants.
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Although Haitian Vodou is still practiced in peoples homes, there are multiple opportunities for people to learn and celebrate Haitian Culture and Vodou. For example, there is the annual Festival Minokan held in Brooklyn New York.
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It is said there are over 60 million people practicing both Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo.
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Today Haitians looking to gain entry into the United States turn to Vodou to guide them at Sea. claiming to use vodou to guide them to America on boats and helping them not get caught.