Chapter 15 Section 2
Haiti
A Struggle for Democracy
Haiti’s Road to Democracy1700s – 1800s
The French imported slaves to work on their plantations.
However, slaves began to revolt in the 1790s.
Toussaint L’Ouverture
helped to end slavery in 1801, and bring about
Haiti’s independence.
With independence, Haiti expelled the French from Haiti, in
1804.
People of Haiti are a mix of African slaves and European ancestry and are known as Creole. Creole also refers to the language spoken in Haiti, which is both French and African languages.
Haiti’s Road to Democracy1957 – 1987
There were a series of brutal dictatorships which began in 1957,
with Papa Doc.
There was hope that the dictatorships would come to an end when Papa Doc was removed in 1986. However,
harsh dictatorships continued!
Jean-Bertrand Aristide was
elected president, in
1990. However, Haitian military took control of
the government, in 1991.
Haiti’s Road to Democracy1988 – 1991
Because of the military takeover, many of Aristide’s
supporters to flee Haiti. They were known as refugees.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
returned to Haiti in 1994, to restore a democratic government.
Haiti’s Road to Democracy1992 – 2002
Aristide was elected president in 2001, but the election results
were challenged.
Democracy was threatened in 2002 when the economy faltered and President Aristide was asked to
resign.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide was first elected Haitian
president in 1990 and most recently,
in 2001.
Reviewing Key Terms
A refugee is a person who escapes his/her homeland to escape persecution
or find personal safety.
A person of mixed African and European descent is known as a
Creole. It can also mean the Haitian language,
mixing French and African languages.
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