After reading Krik? Krak! I couldn't help but notice how little I actually knew about the country we were reading about. I've obviously heard about the earthquake from the news but this was written before all that. It turns out Haiti has been suffering from systemic problems since it's creation in 1804 and recognized in 1825. 
                                                   

Haiti was previously known as Hispaniola, which was a conglomerate of modern day Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Columbus was the first European to land there and gave it its name. This area was subject to fighting over the French side of Haiti and the Spanish side located in the Dominican. Both sides brought over slaves from Africa to work on the immensely profitable sugar plantations located on Hispaniola. The French would ultimately win this struggle for control and after that it was a struggle for Haitians to become independent. The French Revolutionary Maximillian Robespierre granted slaves their freedom but that came with severe limitations. The colonial government made up mostly of white males didn't comply with the law initiating massive revolts. Toussaint Louverture was instrumental in granting Haitians their freedom. He later died after being imprisoned by the French because he was captured after a fake parley with French commanders. The American equivalent to Toussaint could be George Washington or John Adams. Napoleon Bonaparte finally granted Haiti independence in 1804 after defeating the french.


Years of bad leadership from the Haitian government led to economic stagnation from the aftermath of independence from France. Only 3 Haitian presidents enjoyed a peaceful tenure while many endured plots for a coup and one president being killed by an angry mob. Haiti was then subjected to an American occupation by President Woodrow Wilson. This occupation was a result of Haiti's massive debts to American banks and to protect the interests of the US and it's citizens. The US occupation was very unpopular with Haitians and was subject to many revolts. The occupation was justified because the US was Haiti's de jure protectorate. This was later removed by US President Rosevelt by drafting a new constitution. 






kästle, klaus. “History of Haiti.” History of Haiti, www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Haiti-history.htm.

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