Christopher Columbus lands and claims the island
of Hispaniola for Spain. The Spanish build the New World's first
settlement at La Navidad on Haiti's north coast.
1697
Spanish control over the colony ends with the
Treaty of Ryswick, which divided the island into French-controlled
St. Domingue and Spanish Santo Domingo.
For over 100 years the colony of St. Domingue
(known as the Pearl of the Antilles) was France's most important
overseas territory, which supplied it with sugar, rum, coffee and
cotton. At the height of slavery, near the end of the 18th century,
some 500,000 people mainly of western African origin, were enslaved
by the French.
1791-1803
A slave rebellion is launched by the Jamaican-born
Boukman leading to a protracted 13-year war of liberation against
St. Domingue's colonists and later, Napoleon's army which was also
assisted by Spanish and British forces. The slave armies were commanded
by General Toussaint Louverture who was eventually betrayed by his
officers Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe who opposed
his policies, which included reconciliation with the French. He
was subsequently exiled to France where he died.
1803
The Haitian blue and red flag is devised at Arcahie,
by taking the French tricolor, turning it in its side and removing
the white band. The Battle of Vertières marks the ultimate
victory of the former slaves over the French.
1804
The hemispere's second Republic is declared on
January 1, 1804 by General Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Haiti, or Ayiti
in Creole, is the name given to the land by the former Taino-Arawak
peoples, meaning "mountainous country."
1806
Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines is assassinated.
1807-20
Civil war racks the country, which divides into
the northern kingdom of Henri Christophe and the southern republic
governed by Alexandre Pétion. Faced with a rebellion by his
own army, Christophe commits suicide, paving the way for Jean-Pierre
Boyer to reunify the country and become President of the entire
republic in 1820.
1821
President Boyer invades Santo Domingo following
its declaration of independence from Spain. The entire island is
now controlled by Haiti until 1844.
1838
France recognizes Haitian independence in exchange
for a financial indemnity of 150 million francs. Most nations including
the United States shunned Haiti for almost forty years, fearful
that its example could stir unrest there and in other slaveholding
countries. Over the next few decades Haiti is forced to take out
loans of 70 million francs to repay the indemnity and gain international
recognition.
1862
The United States finally grants Haiti diplomatic
recognition sending Frederick Douglass as its Consular Minister.
1915
President Woodrow Wilson orders the U.S. Marines
to occupy Haiti and establish control over customs-houses and port
authorities. The Haitian National Guard is created by the occupying
Americans. The Marines force peasants into corvée labor building
roads. Peasant resistance to the occupiers grows under the leadership
of Charlemagne Peralt, who is betrayed and assassinated by Marines
in 1919.
1934
The U.S. withdraws from Haiti leaving the Haitian
Armed Forces in place throughout the country.
1937
Thousands of Haitians living near the border
of the Dominican Republic are massacred by Dominican soldiers under
the orders of President General Trujillo.
1957
After several attempts to move forward democratically
ultimately fail, military-controlled elections lead to victory for
Dr. François Duvalier, who in 1964 declares himself President-for-Life
and forms the infamous paramilitary Tonton Macoute. The corrupt
Duvalier dictatorship marks one of the saddest chapters in Haitian
history with tens of thousands killed or exiled.
1971
"Papa-Doc" Duvalier dies in office
after naming his 19 year-old son Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) as his successor.
Baby Doc proves more ruthless than his father.
1972
The first Haitian "boat people" fleeing
the country land in Florida.
1976
Widespread protests against repression of the
nation's press take place.
1970s-1980s
"Baby-Doc" Duvalier exploits international
assistance and seeks to attract investment leading to the establishment
of textile-based assembly industries. Attempts by workers and political
parties to organize are quickly and regularly crushed.
1980
Hundreds of human rights workers, journalists
and lawyers are arrested and exiled from the country.
1981
International aid agencies declare Haitian pigs
to be carriers of African Swine Fever and institute a program for
their slaughter. Attempts to replace indigenous swine with imported
breeds largely fail, causing wider spread hunger and despair.
1983
Pope John Paul II visits Haiti and declares publicly
that, "Things must change here."
1984
Over 200 peasants are massacred at Jean-Rabeau
after demonstrating for access to land. The Haitian Bishops' Conference
launches a nation-wide (but short-lived) literacy program. Anti-government
riots take place in all major towns.
1985
Massive anti-Government demonstrations continue
to take place around the country. Four schoolchildren are shot dead
by soldiers, an event which unifies popular protest against the
régime.
Widespread protests against "Baby Doc"
lead the U.S. to arrange for Duvalier and his family to be exiled
to France. Army leader General Henri Namphy heads a new National
Governing Council.
1987
A new Constitution is overwhelmingly approved
by the population in March. General elections in November are aborted
hours after they begin with dozens of people shot by soldiers and
the Tonton Macoute in the capital and scores more around the country.
1988
Military controlled elections - widely abstained
from - result in the installation of Leslie Manigat as President
in January. Manigat is ousted by General Namphy four months later
and in November General Prosper Avril unseats Namphy.
1989
President Avril, on a trade mission to Taiwan,
returns empty-handed after grassroots-based democratic sectors inform
Taiwanese authorities that the Haitian nation will not be responsible
for any contracts agreed to by Avril. Avril orders massive repression
against political parties, unions, students and democratic organizations.
1990
Avril declares a state of siege in January. Rising
protests and urging from the American Ambassador convince Avril
to resign. A Council of State forms out of negotiations among democratic
sectors, charged with running a Provisional Government led by Supreme
Court Justice Ertha Pascal-Trouillot.
U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle visits Haiti and
tells Army leaders, "No more coups." Assistance is sought
from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations
(UN) to help organize general elections in December.
In a campaign marred by occasional violence and
death, democratic elections finally take place on December 16, 1990.
Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide (affectionately called Titid), a parish
priest, well known throughout the country for his support of the
poor, is elected President with 67.5% of the popular vote. The "U.S.
favorite" Marc Bazin finishes a distant second with 14.2%
1991
Duvalierist holdover and Tonton Macoute, Dr.
Roger Lafontant attempts a coup d'état to prevent Father
Aristide's ascension to power. The Armed Forces quickly remove him
from the National Palace following massive popular protest.
President Aristide is inaugurated on February
7th, five years after Duvalier's fall from power. A Government is
formed by Prime Minister René Préval promising to
uproot the corruption of the past. Over $500 million is promised
in aid by the international community.
In September President Aristide addresses the
UN General Assembly. Three days after his return military personnel
with financial backing from neo-Duvalierist sectors and their international
allies unleash a coup d'état, ousting President Aristide.
Over 1,000 people are killed in the first days of the coup.
The OAS calls for a hemisphere-wide embargo against
the coup régime in support of the deposed constitutional
authorities.
1992
Negotiations between the Washington, D.C. based
exiled Government, Haiti's Parliament and representatives of the
coup régime headed by General Raoul Cédras lead to
the Washington Protocol, which is ultimately scuttled by the coup
régime.
U.S. President George Bush exempts U.S. factories
from the embargo and orders U.S. Coast Guard to interdict all Haitians
leaving the island in boats and to return them to Haiti.
The OAS embargo fails to affect Haiti's elite
(about 10% of the population) as goods continue to be smuggled through
neighboring Dominican Republic. Haiti's legitimate authorities ask
the United Nations to support a larger embargo in order to press
the coup leaders to step down. The shanty towns expand, the poor
are dying much faster.
The UN pledges to support efforts by the OAS
to find a solution to the political crisis.
1993
President Aristide asks the Secretaries-General
of the OAS and the UN for the deployment by the United Nations and
OAS of an international civilian mission to monitor respect for
human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence.
In June Haiti requests an oil and arms embargo
from the UN Security Council in order to pressure the coup régime
to give up power.
In July, President Aristide and General Raoul
Cédras sign the Governor's Island Accord, which inter alia
called for the early retirement of Gen. Cédras, the formation
and training of a new civilian police force, and the return of the
President on October 30, 1993. Representatives of political parties
and Parliament sign the New York Pact pledging support for President
Aristide's return and the rebuilding of the nation.
A contingent of U.S. and Canadian trainers aboard
the U.S.S. Harlan County arrives in Haitian waters in October and
is recalled because of right-wing demonstrations, setting back the
Governors Island agreement. General Cédras refuses to step
down as promised.
President Aristide's Justice Minister Guy Malary,
responsible for the formation of a civilian police force is shot
dead in Port-au-Prince weeks after local businessman and Aristide
supporter Antoine Izmery is executed outside of a local church.
The UN calls for "strict implementation"
of the embargo against the de facto authorities. The Civilian Mission's
human rights observers are allowed to return in small numbers.
1994
In May additional sanctions were levied against
the régime through a naval blockade supported by Argentine,
Canadian, French, Dutch and U.S. warships.
Tensions increase as human rights violations
continue. The Civilian Mission is told by the de facto authorities
to leave the country.
The UN Security Council passes Resolution 940
authorizing the Member States to form a 6,000 multinational force
and "to use all necessary means" to facilitate the departure
of the military régime.
On September 15th, U.S. President Clinton declares
that all diplomatic initiatives were exhausted and that the US with
20 other countries would form a multinational force. On September
19th these troops land in Haiti after the coup leaders agree to
step down and leave the country.
On October 15th, President Aristide and his Government-in-exile
return to Haiti.
1995
In June Haiti hosts the annual OAS General Assembly
at Montrouis.
Legislative elections take place that month and
in December the presidential contest is won by former Prime Minister
René Préval. (President Aristide is precluded by the
Constitution from succeeding himself).
In November Prime Minister Smarck Michel steps
down and Foreign Minister Claudette Werleigh becomes President Aristide's
fourth Prime Minister.
1996
President Préval is inaugurated in February.
A Government is formed under Prime Minister Rosny Smarth. Agricultural
production, administrative reform, and economic modernization are
announced as the Goverment's priorities.
