The Republic of Haiti came into being in 1804. In that year African slaves who had revolted against their French masters declared Haiti an independent country. Today Haiti is notable as the only independent French-speaking country in the Americas. It is also known for its rich Creole culture of music, folklore, and art. The capital is Port-au-Prince. GeographyCovering an area of 10,714 square miles (27,750 square kilometers), Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola in the West Indies. It lies about 600 miles (970 kilometers) southeast of Florida. With peninsulas in the north and south, Haiti is shaped like a horseshoe facing west. On the east Haiti borders the Dominican Republic, which covers the rest of Hispaniola. The Atlantic Ocean is to the north and the Caribbean Sea is to the west and south. Several nearby small islands are part of the country. Haiti is a mountainous country. Massif du Nord, in the north, is the main mountain range. Mount la Selle in the south is Haiti's highest point, rising to 8,773 feet (2,674 meters). Between the mountain ranges are fertile plains. The longest of Haiti's many rivers is the Artibonite. Haiti has a warm, humid tropical climate. Temperatures vary little from season to season. Periods of drought occur occasionally, and hurricanes are common between August and November. Plants and animalsHaiti was once almost entirely covered with forests, but over the years most of the trees have been cut down. Some evergreen forests still exist in the mountains. Coconut, coffee, cacao, avocado, mango, lime, and orange trees grow wild. The dry plains have thorny scrub and cacti. Haiti's wildlife is also limited. It includes flamingos and reptiles such as lizards and caimans, which are similar to alligators. People and cultureNearly all of the people of Haiti are of African origin. They are descendants of slaves brought to the island by French colonists in the 17th and 18th centuries. Most of the rest of the people are mulattoes, or of mixed white and black ancestry. The most commonly used language in Haiti is Creole, a mixture of French, Spanish, and English. About 10 percent of the people also speak French. Most Haitians are Roman Catholic, but many of these people also practice voodoo. This folk religion is a combination of African and Roman Catholic beliefs and practices. Haiti is one of the most densely populated nations in the world. The majority of the people live in rural areas. Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city, is very overcrowded. Other major cities and towns include Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel, Gonaïves, and Les Cayes. EconomyHaiti is the poorest country in the Americas. About 80 percent of the people live in poverty. Although fertile land is in short supply, the economy is chiefly agricultural. Haiti's small farms cannot produce enough food for the country's people, so food must be imported. The main food crops include cassava (manioc), plantains and bananas, corn (maize), yams and sweet potatoes, and rice. Coffee is the main export crop, followed by sugarcane. Livestock includes goats, cattle, and pigs. Manufacturing is a small part of Haiti's economy. Many of the country's industries specialize in putting together parts imported from the United States. They produce goods such as baseballs, clothing, and electronic components. Other manufactured products include flour, cement, cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages. Haiti has few natural resources, and the mining industry is small. The main service industries are tourism, government, finance, and trade. HistoryThe island of Hispaniola has been inhabited for thousands of years, but much of Haiti's early history is unknown. The explorer Christopher Columbus arrived in Hispaniola in 1492. At that time more than a million Arawak Indians lived on the island. The Spaniards who settled on Hispaniola killed many of the Arawak. Many other Indians were worked to death or died of disease. By the end of the 16th century, almost all of the Arawak had been wiped out. French rule and the Haitian RevolutionThe Spaniards settled mostly on the eastern part of the island. French pirates established plantations on the western part of the island. In 1697 Spain gave control of western Hispaniola to the French, who renamed it Saint-Domingue. The colony grew rich through sugar and cotton production. Slaves brought from Africa worked on the plantations. By the end of the 18th century they greatly outnumbered the island's white population. In 1791 the slaves rebelled against French rule. After a series of conflicts, they declared their country's independence in 1804. They called the country Haiti, which comes from an Arawak word meaning “mountainous land.” The rebels could not, however, establish a stable government. Revolutions and assassinations led to many government changes throughout the next century. The 20th century and beyondBy the early 20th century the United States had begun to play an important economic role in Haiti. United States Marines occupied the country in 1915. After the Marines withdrew in 1934, the government of Haiti continued to be unstable. In 1957 François Duvalier was elected president. He ruled as a dictator until his death in 1971. He was succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier. Protests against the younger Duvalier's corrupt government broke out in 1986. Duvalier fled the country, and military rule was established. Haiti's first free presidential elections were held in 1990. Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected, but in the next year a military group overthrew his government. Other countries refused to accept the new military government, and all economic aid to Haiti was stopped. Thousands of Haitians tried to flee to the United States. In 1994, fearing an invasion by the United States, Haiti's military government let United States troops move into the country. The military leaders soon resigned, allowing Aristide to return to office. Aristide's term ended in 1996, but he was reelected to the presidency in 2000. Aristide faced serious economic and political problems in his second term, and open opposition to his rule broke out in 2003. In late February 2004 Aristide was forced to leave the country as rebels attacked several major cities. A temporary government was established after he left. Population (2003 estimate), 7,528,000. |