After being discovered by Christopher Columbus and claimed for Spain in 1492, the island now known as “Hispaniola” was under Spanish control for nearly 200 years. In 1967, the Treaty of Ryswick divided it into France’s St. Dominigue (which provided the country with its sugar, rum, coffee and cotton) and Spain’s Santo Domingo.

In 1791, a slave rebellion was led by Boukman, leading to a war over the next 13 years. General Toussaint Louverture led these slave armies until he was exiled to France by two officers who opposed his policy of reconciliation with the French. In 1803, the Haitian flag was created using the French tricolor, turning it and eliminating the white band. The slaves claimed victory over France at the Battle of Vertieres.

A new stone was turned on January 1, 1840 when General Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared a second Republic. The land was first given the Creole name “Aviti” (or “Haiti”) during this time, which means “mountainous country.” Following the assassination of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a civil war ensued until 1820, when Jean-Pierre Boyer became President. The following year he invaded Santo Domingo after it divided from Spain, and Haiti controlled the entire island until 1844.

In 1838, France allows Haiti its independence for the price of 150 million francs. 70 million of this was loaned to the country over a 40-year period, and this example of territories shunning their governing country was feared by slave-owning countries around the world. However, in 1862 Haiti was granted diplomatic recognition by the United States.

U.S. President Wilson sends the Marines to occupy Haiti in 1915, creating the Haitian National Guard. Peasants are forced to build roads and resist U.S. presence under Charlemagne Peralt. Peralt is assassinated by the U.S. Marines in 1919. Later, in 1934, the U.S. withdraws and leaves the Haitian Armed Forces in place.

Soldiers from the Dominican Republic massacre thousands of Haitians in 1937, and the country struggles democratically for the next 20 years. The year 1957 brought an election victory for Dr. Francois Duvalier, who declared himself ‘President-for-Life’ in 1964. Duvalier then forms the Tonton Macoute, beginning a corrupt dictatorship that results in several thousand Haitians being killed or exiled.

“Papa-Doc” Duvalier died in 1971, leaving his office to his 19-year-old son Jean-Claude. Also known as “Baby Doc,” he is feared far more than his father. The following year, a boat of Haitians lands in Florida, lending the nickname “boat people” to these exiled natives. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Baby Doc attempts to attract foreign investments in order to establish textile industries in the country. Workers and political parties are repeatedly refused several attempts to organize – hundreds of human rights workers are arrested and exiled in 1980.

Haitian pigs are determined to be carriers of African Swine Fever in 1981, leading to massive slaughters. Re-population attempts fail, beginning an era of widespread hunger. In 1984, more than 200 peasant natives are massacred at Jean-Rabeau after a peaceful demonstration for access to land rights. This leads to anti-government riots in all major towns over the next year, and popular protest against the government unified after soldiers shoot and kill four students. These widespread protests lead to the U.S. exiling Baby Doc and his family to France. General Henri Namphy leads a new National Governing Council.

In March of 1987, the population supports a new constitution, but general elections held in November are aborted after soldiers and the Tonton Macoute shoot dozens of people. Military-controlled elections in 1988 lead to the installation of President Leslie Manigat in January. About four months later, General Namphy ousts him, and Namphy was unseated by General Prosper Avril in November of the same year. The following year, President Avril travels to Taiwan on a trading mission, but this trip was a failure because Taiwanese authorities were informed by grassroots democratic sectors that the nation will not honor any contracts entered into by Avril. This leads to Avril ordering widespread repression of political parties, unions and other organizations.

President Avril resigns after rising protests and urging from the American Ambassador in 1990. December 16, 1990 marks the democratic election that brought Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office with 67.5% of the popular vote. In 1991, President Aristide addresses the UN General Assembly, but only three days upon his return a military uprising headed by General Raoul Cédras ousts him. More than 1,000 people are killed during the uprising, and a hemisphere-wide embargo against the regime is called for by the OAS. The democratic government, exiled to Washington, D.C., Haiti’s Parliament and representatives from the regime begin negotiations in 1992, leading to the Washington Protocol. The regime later dismisses the Protocol. U.S. President George Bush exempts U.S. factories from the hemisphere-wide embargo, and the U.S. Coast Guard is ordered to intercept all Haitian “boat people” trying to the leave and return them to the island. Goods are smuggled through the Dominican Republic, leading to the failure of the OAS embargo.

In 1993 the Governors Island Accord is signed by General Cédras and President Aristide, bringing the President back to power and Cédras to retirement. A new civilian police force is also formed. However, the General refuses to retire as promised. Violence ensues while a supporter of Aristide is executed and Justice Minister Guy Malary is assassinated. This causes the UN to call for implementation of the embargo once again.

A naval blockade composed of Argentine, Canadian, French, Dutch, and U.S. warships enforces additional sanctions against the regime in May of 1994. Human rights violations continue, and on September 15th U.S. President Clinton announces diplomatic options have been exhausted and a multinational force is formed with 20 other countries. Troops land in Haiti on September 19th after the regime leaders agree to leave the country. President Aristide returns to Haiti and office on October 15th.

In June of 1995, Haiti hosts the annual OAS General Assembly. Legislative elections are conducted in June as well, and the presidential election brings former Prime Minister René Prival to office in December. He is inaugurated in February of 1996, and a new government is formed under Prime Minister Rosny Smarth. Elections for municipal and legislative positions in 2000 result in flawed vote counts and fraud charges, causing a controversy and boycott of the presidential election that year. Nevertheless, Aristide is elected once again. The allegedly fraudulent election requires international mediation, and precludes a foundering economy and political violence.

In January of 2004, the country celebrates its 200th anniversary. A rebel movement then causes an uprising and seizing of several territories, leading to Aristide’s resignation on February 29, 2004. English Creole translation by www.haitiancreoletranslation.com based in Melbourne, Florida