Haiti's Struggles: Past, Present, and Political

592 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on the history of haiti

Haiti is the unequivocally the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, indeed, the country is so poor that its citizen cannot even afford eating foods and Haitian children need to eat dirts to stay alive. [1] Nevertheless, Haiti is the home to the only successful slave rebellion; Toussaint Louverture, last governor of French Saint-Domingue, was born a slave.
Why are these background informations useful? Because these informations provide us some important basic knowledges of Haiti. As a country mainly composed of ex-slaves, Haiti is mainly composed of people of African origin. However, why is Haiti so poor compared to its other black majority neighbors such as Saint Kitts and Neves and Barbados? Because Haiti did not attain its independence through peaceful means. Haitian revolt against the French, and they indeed won, against Napoleon Bonaparte[2].

Let us get back to our course now. Haiti is a democracy, "illiberal democracy" to be precise. After the departure of Duvalier, "Baby Doc" Jean-Claude , Haitian amended their constitution to make the presidential election be held every five years, allowing presidents to serve five-year long non-renewable terms [3]. Presidents are eligible for reelection after their mandate and their successor's mandates have passed. Haitian legislators naively …show more content…

The current authoritarian regime could not produce that democratic power. The upper class originally wanted Charles-Henri Baker, one of the richest person in Haiti, to be president, however he was not even close to the threshold. The socialites chose the second best alternative, Martelly, and want to keep him(and them) in power forever. Haiti may never attain democracy, or it may suddenly become democratic just after one night. Haitian government needs to not go back to its Duvalierst back trail and increase government transparency, otherwise Haiti will never complete the transition from the poorest to the second

Show More
Related

  • A Wall Of Fire Rising By Edwidge Danticat's Short Story By Native Haiti

    1334 Words  | 3 Pages

    It’s stated more than once in this story that a true and honest living is not easily come by for any native of Haiti and they earn very little money when a job is available. The people are paid an insubstantial wage, live in shantytowns, and often times go to bed with their stomachs distended from a voracious and unforgiving hunger. In The Norton Mix Introduction to Literature, Danticat shows these significant consequences of the Revolution through stating that when it got really bad for the family, they would boil ground sugar cane so that it would get rid of the hunger pangs that often tormented the children of the poor (p. 229). The way they live shows the negative effects of the Revolution by showing that although they are technically free, they are still oppressed through economic conditions and puny and sporadic

    Read More

  • The 1805 Constitution Of Haiti Summary

    477 Words  | 1 Pages

    The most important element to remember about the Constitution of Haiti is that it wanted its citizens to have basic human rights. In many constitutions across the world, political figures

    Read More

  • Why Did Haiti Justified

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    The citizens are labeled as lazy and superstitious, stereotyped in that neat little box with no room for movement. Douglass agrees that they can be a bit lazy and ignorant, but they are not simply idle at all times. By this time, Haiti prospers in a coffee economy and continues to import and export goods from within her borders. Its important to recognize that this nation and its citizens were the first to fight and win their emancipation. The slave revolution in the former French colony of Saint-Domingue was a historic event that brought about universal liberties as other nations followed suit.

    Read More

  • An Invasion of Haiti is Averted by Accord To Restore Aristide

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    On it's part, the Haitian Junta agreed to hand over power to the democratically elected government of exiled Haitian leader, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

    Read More

  • Haitian Government and Violation of Human Rights

    1184 Words  | 3 Pages

    Haiti is a small country in the West Indies and is the western third of the island Hispaniola (Rodman, Selden). According to Selden Rodman Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and after the earthquake in 2010 they are way worse than they were before. The Earthquake changed a lot for everyone living there rich and poor. “Over 200,000 people died as a result of the earthquake another 2.3 lost their homes” (Haiti). This quote shows how bad the 7.0 Haiti Earthquake was that happened in January of 2010. The conditions are already awful for the people there and all the human rights violations happening are not helping. The conditions are so bad many are trying to flee their country and come to the United States even though they know that the chance of making it there is very slim (Human rights violations…). According to Richard Horton and William Summskill the United States did a survey test called the lancelet to get results from the Haitians on human rights violations happening. The survey showed us murders, women getting raped and other human violations numbers. This showed the United States that we should take action, because we had real evidence from the victims of the human rights violations in Haiti. One of the problems is that the United States does not know how to help. Haiti is so behind in everything; technology, inexperienced policemen, lacking a judicial system and their economy is very unstable. We should take action in Haiti because of these human rights violations; police and government abuse, women not getting their rights, and poor people not getting their rights.

    Read More

  • Haiti's Contribution To The Colonial History Of Haiti Today

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    Several of the problems that Haiti faces today have their genesis in the country’s colonial history. The country was like a toy being fought over by spoiled children. The first of these children arrived in the early sixteenth century in the form of Spanish settlers in search of gold. They enslaved the native Taino population and, poisoned by avarice, nearly eradicated the indigenous work force. Thousands of African slaves were brought in to take their place. Eventually, the Spanish left the island to grab their share of newly discovered treasure in other lands. Tiring of their toy, the Spanish

    Read More

  • Haiti Konpa

    1458 Words  | 3 Pages

    On a small island resigns a country called Haiti (Ayiti), next to the Dominican Republic. In this country, Konpa (Kompa) is a style of music made for dancing for its citizens. Konpa (Kompa) is also the national music of Haiti, though it does not have a long history compared to other European musical genres. In the Caribbean country of Haiti, Konpa (Kompa) can be used to see the many influences that have taken place in the colonization of Haiti, from its Spanish influences all the way to its European influences. Konpa (Kompa) is an aspect of Haitian society that is used for enjoying a party or celebration, however, Konpa (Kompa) is not only limited to these social activities. Konpa (Kompa) can be played and enjoyed in the everyday form of entertainment from relaxing with friends, cooking,

    Read More

  • Human Rights Violations in Haiti

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    Haiti was once an economic power when France held claim to the Eastern Part of Hispaniola, then named St. Domingue. It was a French colony flourishing with coffee and sugar. Eventually the ideals of the French Revolution - Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity - made its way to the colonies resulting in a revolution. Haiti was the first slave-led revolution and declared its independence as a republic on January 1, 1804. After their declaration of independence, things started to make a turn for the worst. In 1934 the U.S. forces occupied Haiti to establish stability. The U.S. appointed heads of state but the real power was present in the U.S. occupiers, whereas the heads of state are just figureheads. Haiti’s economy dwindled further down when France demanded reparations of 150 million francs, which wasn’t paid off until 1947. In 65 years, Haiti had 22 heads of state.” In 1957 Francois Duvalier is elected president. He later “creates a totalitarian dictatorship and in 1964 declares himself president-for-life.” This is where Haiti’s political instability really begins.

    Read More

  • Haitian Revolution Research Paper

    1704 Words  | 4 Pages

    Haiti, previously known as Saint-Domingue, was a slave island and one of the wealthiest of France’s colonies. Up until this point in time, slavery was still common and, as mentioned above, continued throughout the world even after such freedom declarations such as, the Declaration of Independence in the newly formed United States, and the Declaration of Rights of Man in the Republic of France. The Haitian Revolution was brought on by the want for liberation of slaves, and was largely inspired by the French Revolution and the Declaration of Rights of Man. “Even though the early leaders of the French Revolution had no intention of exporting the upheaval, it spread to the colonies, especially to Saint-Domingue” (Ott 1973). This revolution proved to be a major event as it was the most successful slave revolution in history. The slavery population in Haiti, vastly outnumbered the white colonists in Haiti, and therefore, when the slave population banded together, led to a full-scaled rebellion. Revolts would continue to occur until finally in 1793, the slaves got their freedom, with slavery officially being abolished in all French territories in 1794. From this point until 1802, small rebellions continued to occur as not much changed in the daily lives of slaves, despite technically having their freedom. After the French Revolution and with Napoleon taking power in 1799; Napoleon reinstated slavery in all French colonies, including Haiti. Napoleon also sent an army to Haiti to enforce these new slavery laws and Haiti returned to a slave economy in 1802 (Doyle 1943). The Haitian Revolutionaries finally get their win after defeating the French soldiers in the Battle of Vertieres in 1803; the final part of the revolution. The revolution officially ended in 1804, with Haiti gaining its independence from France and permanently abolishing slavery

    Read More

  • Essay On The Haitian Revolution

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    The island of Saint-Domingue was made up of a mixture of people including whites from France, creoles, free people of color, and slaves. Once sugar became a major cash crop on the island, an estimated half-million African slaves were brought in to work the land. These slaves outnumbered their white masters more than ten to one and made up the majority of the island inhabitants. Even so, the island had the most secure slave regime in the Caribbean because of the cooperation between masters and free men of color. Due to the difficult policing jobs given to the freed men with little reward, the communication between them and the white masters broke down. Now that the white slaveholders were on their own, it was only a matter of time before their brutal treatment of slaves would lead to an uprising. Once enslaved Africans received word of the revolution in France they too began demanding freedom. After years of civil unrest and vicious fighting, Haiti declared its freedom from France in January of 1804. What makes the Haitian Revolution more radical than the two before it is the fact that it was led by slaves. Throughout the previous revolutions, the main goal was for white men, essentially, to be free from oppressive government rule. There were few thoughts regarding the rights of slaves, even though they too were men. The fact that this group of people were able to remove the colonial authority and establish their own country during this period of time was particularly radical and unheard

    Read More

  • Juan Pablo Duarte Essay

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    it remained under the control of the Haitian government. He strongly disliked the role of the

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Haiti And America

    219 Words  | 1 Pages

    Haiti lifestyle and America lifestyle is different. In Haiti They don’t have the same sources as Americans do. In fact, Most Haitians don’t have Electricity and rely on charcoal for energy. While in America most people are able use stoves or microwaves to prepare food quickly. People in Haiti don’t bathe as much as people in America because they don’t have access to clean or running water. However, In America people are able to bathe every day. In America people often eat 3 meals a day which is breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Haiti they only eat 2 meals a day. Haitians usually eat bread and coffee in the morning and later on the evening they eat fried meat like goat, chicken, pork etc. Americans on the other hand, may eat eggs, bacon, sausages,

    Read More

  • Haitian Revolution Essay

    1726 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Haitian Revolution was classified as the first slave revolt that resulted in freedom for the slaves in Haiti. This revolution took place in the late 1700’s in the island of Haiti, in the Caribbean. This revolution consisted on the slaves overtaking the white settlers. After they took over they founded the Republic of Haiti. The people of Haiti had a very broad and intense social class division, the White people and the Blacks. The white people treated the salves poorly and unjust because of the strong idea of racism and were controlling the Black population in their everyday life. The white settlers were on the highest place of society, causing a lot of mistreat and slaves to escape to the mountains (“The Haitian Revolution”, StudyMode.com). Since the white people where being resistant to the idea of the black people to have their own rights and freedom, the slaves decided to revolt. In May 1971, the revolution started with the revolt of the slaves against the white settlers. The Haitian revolution changed the disputes about freedom and slavery, liberated people who fought for their freedom, and became the first black slave revolution won.

    Read More

  • Haiti's Healthcare System

    597 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story of Haiti’s healthcare system is unfortunately tied all too closely to disaster, both man-made and nature-born. This paper will briefly discuss the pre-2010 earthquake healthcare environment in Haiti as the uncertainty that exists provides little opportunity to provide a reasoned understanding of its current national healthcare status.

    Read More

  • Enlightenment in Latin America

    533 Words  | 2 Pages

    Haiti had over a half million enslaved Africans working on sugar plantations owned by the French. The sugar was hugely profitable, but conditions for enslaved worker were horrendous. Many were cruelly over worked and under fed. Haiti also had a population of both free and enslaved mulattoes. Free mulattoes, however, had few right and were badly treated by the French. In 1791, a slave revolt exploded in northern Haiti. Under the able leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture, Haitians would fight for freedom and pave the way for throwing off French rule.

    Read More

More about Haiti's Struggles: Past, Present, and Political

Open Document