A Tumultuous History

Haiti, located on the western third of the Island of Hispaniola, was originally inhabited by the Taíno Indians of the Arawak Linguistic Family, who migrated from the northeast coast of South America through the Antilles. Haiti's name might be attributed to the Taíno word ayti, meaning "the land of mountains" or "mountainous country."

In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed on the northwest tip of the island and claimed it for Spain. In very little time, the native population of the island was annihilated due to rampant disease, malnutrition and violence. In the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick, Spain gave France control of the colony of Saint Domingue, which had then become known as "La Perle des Antilles," because of its lush vegetation and towering mahogany trees. With slave labor from West Africa, French colonists produced sugar, coffee, indigo and cotton, and exported mahogany, devastating the tropical forests. In 1791 a slave rebellion led by former slave-turned-military commander, Toussaint Louverture ushered in a 13-year successful war of independence against the French colonists and Napoleon’s army. France recognized Haiti’s independence in 1838. Haiti became the first country to enact a successful slave rebellion, and is the first post-colonial nation completely run by black people. In the decades that have passed since this historical feat, the country has suffered chronic economic and political instability.

In 1964 Dr. François Duvalier (Papa Doc) declared himself President-for-Life. After his death in 1971, his son Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) took control of the country. He was exiled to France in 1986 and replaced by a succession of military leaders. Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected to office in 1990 but removed in a 1991 coup. In 1994 a multinational force landed in Haiti, forcing coup leaders to leave the country. Aristide was reinstated and served until his term was over in 1995 when René Préval was elected President. Aristide was reelected in December 2000, and inaugurated for the second time in February 2001. The current president of Haiti is René Préval, who has been in office since 2006. After increasing violent outbreaks in February of 2004, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was implemented in the fall of the same year in order to increase the stability of Haiti's precarious state of security.