Explored by Columbus on Dec. 6, 1492, Haiti's native Arawaks fell
victim to Spanish rule. In 1697, Haiti became the French colony of
Saint-Dominique, which became a leading sugarcane producer dependent on
slaves. In 1791, an insurrection erupted among the slave population of
480,000, resulting in a declaration of independence by Toussaint
l'Ouverture in 1801. Napoléon Bonaparte suppressed the
independence movement, but it eventually triumphed in 1804 under
Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who gave the new nation the Arawak name Haiti.
Today, Haiti is not even considered a third world country: its
infrastructure is so weak, that it is actually considered a fifth world
country.
Frances Duvalier was elected president in 1957; in 1964, he
proclaimed himself president for life. Upon his death in 1971 he was
succeeded by his 19-year-old son, Jean-Claude, who also became
president for life.
In 2003, Nearly 80% of the population lives in abject poverty.
Drought in 1975-77 brought famine, and Hurricane Allen in 1980
destroyed most of the rice, bean, and coffee crops. Following several
weeks of unrest, President Jean Claude Duvalier fled Haiti aboard a
U.S. Air Force jet in 1986, ending the 28-year dictatorship by the
Duvalier family.
Today, the literacy rate in Haiti is approximately 45%. Only
1/3 of the population is estimated to hold a formal job.
In 1987, voters approved a new constitution, but the January
1988 elections were marred by violence and boycotted by the opposition.
Gen. Namphy seized control in June, but was ousted by a military coup
in September.
The average life expectancy is 49 years of age.
Jean-Betrand Aristide was elected president December, 1990. In
September, 1991, Aristide was arrested by the military and expelled
from the country. Aristide was restored to office and re-elected
President in 2000. His election has not been recognized by the
international community because of reports of election fraud. As a
result, millions of dollars in international aid and loans have been
withheld from Haiti, although the country is still expected to pay
interest on debts accrued under the Duvalier regime.
In 2003, the population in Haiti is 7,500,000. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
