History of HaitiZoltan Grossman

Colonized by French French ruled sugar plantations harshly

in western half of Hispaniola.

African slaves began speaking French Creole.

Only successful slave revolt, 1803Haiti becomes independent under

revolutionary leader Toussaint L’Ouverture

Poverty, instability, dictatorshipNo help from Europeans, Americans.

Became poorest country in Western Hemisphere

Poverty, instability, dictatorshipDesperately poor Haitians chop down trees;

deforestation can be seen on border

Haiti

Dominican Republic

Dominican RepublicDominican RepublicDominican RepublicDominican Republic

HaitiHaitiHaitiHaiti

U.S. Marine OccupationFought rebels from 1915 to 1934

U.S. Marine Occupation Marine Major General Smedley Butler, 1933

“War is just a racket…. I spent most of my time being a high class muscle- man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster ….I helped make Mexico… safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. …. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints.”

Duvalier Dictatorship“Papa Doc” 1957 “Baby Doc” 1971

Duvalier Dictatorship“Tontons Macoutes” voodoo-following death squad

Duvalier DictatorshipRawlings made nearly all baseballs in Haiti until 1986.

(Workers made $1,300/year)

1986 Revolution“Baby Doc” Duvalier ousted,

but 4 years of military dictatorship & refugee crisis

1990 Election of AristideCatholic priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide,

supported by the poor

1991 Military CoupAristide ousted by Haitian military;

Duvalier’s thugs return for revenge on poor;enormous numbers of Haitians leave by boat

(many died at sea)

1980 = Economic Migrants = Sent HomeLate 1980s-Early 1990s = Refugees = AsylumToday = Economic Migrants = Sent Home

Changing Status:Haitian Boat People

1994 InterventionU.S. forces intervene to return

democratically elected Aristide to office.

1994 Intervention Aristide disbands military (thugs remain free);

but he did not have much power to change society

2000 ElectionAfter interim leader René Préval (1996-2001),

Aristide elected again.Opponents accuse of corruption, violence, vote-rigging.

2004 RebellionU.S. denies World Bank aid package to Haiti.Former military soldiers & thugs team up with

some former Aristide followers to fight his police.

2004 RebellionU.S. does not back up democratically elected

leader, but asks him to leave to avoid bloodbath.Rebels celebrate his departure.

2004 Intervention U.S. Marines land again, along with French & Canadians.

Will thugs again seek revenge, and trigger a new refugee crisis? U.S. Coast Guard blocking refugees.

Aristide ally re-elected, 2006

Brazilian UN “peacekeepers” raid Cité Soleil, other Lavalas communities; Left criticizes Lula

Privatization proceeds, coupled with oil price hikes

René Préval Government

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Massive Food Riots, April 2008

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