PEOPLE in Haiti

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Haitian(s).
Population (July 2009 est.): 9,035,536.
Annual population growth rate: (2009 est.) 1.838%.
Ethnic groups: African descent 95%, African and European descent 5%.
Religions (2003 data): Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 28%, voudou (voodoo) practices pervasive.
Languages: French (official), Creole (official).
Education: Years compulsory--6. Adult literacy (2006 census)--56%.
Health: Child mortality--1 out of 8 children die before they reach the age of five. Life expectancy--62 years (women), 59 years (men).


PEOPLE
Although Haiti averages about 325 people per square kilometer, its population is concentrated most heavily in urban areas, coastal plains, and valleys. About 95% of Haitians are of African descent. The rest of the population is mostly of mixed Caucasian-African ancestry. A few are of European or Levantine heritage. Sixty percent of the population lives in rural areas.

French is one of two official languages, but it is spoken fluently by only about 10% of the people. All Haitians speak Creole, the country's other official language. English and Spanish are increasingly used as second languages among the young and in the business sector.

The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Increasing numbers of Haitians have converted to Protestantism through the work of missionaries active throughout the country. Much of the population also practices voudou (voodoo), recognized by the government as a religion in April 2003. Haitians tend to see no conflict in these African-rooted beliefs coexisting with Christian faith.

Although public education is free, the cost is still quite high for Haitian families who must pay for uniforms, textbooks, supplies, and other inputs. Due to weak state provision of education services, private and parochial schools account for approximately 90% of primary schools, and only 65% of primary school-aged children are actually enrolled. At the secondary level, the figure drops to around 20%. Less than 35% of those who enter will complete primary school. Though Haitians place a high value on education, few can afford to send their children to secondary school and primary school enrollment is dropping due to economic factors. Remittances sent by Haitians living abroad are important in paying educational costs.

Large-scale emigration, principally to the U.S.--but also to Canada, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas and other Caribbean neighbors, and France--has created what Haitians refer to as the Eleventh Department or the Diaspora. About one of every eight Haitians lives abroad.

U.S.-HAITI RELATIONS

U.S. policy toward Haiti is designed to foster and strengthen democracy; help alleviate poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition; promote respect for human rights; and counter illegal migration and drug trafficking. The U.S. also supports and facilitates bilateral trade and investment along with legal migration and travel. U.S. policy goals are met through direct bilateral action and by working with the international community. The United States has taken a leading role in organizing international involvement with Haiti. The United States works closely with the Organization of American States (OAS), particularly through the Secretary General's "Friends of Haiti" group (originally a UN group that included the U.S., Canada, France, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina which was enlarged in 2001 to add Germany, Spain, Norway, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and The Bahamas), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and individual countries to achieve policy goals.

Maintaining good relations with and fostering democracy in Haiti are important for many reasons, not least of which is the country's geographical proximity to the continental United States. In addition to the many Haitians who receive visas to immigrate into the U.S. (averaging over 13,000 annually in FY 1999-2003), there is a flow of illegal migrants. Over 100,000 undocumented Haitian migrants were intercepted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard in the past two decades, particularly during the 1991-94 period of illegal military rule when more than 67,000 migrants were interdicted. Since the return of the legitimate government in 1994, the interdiction of illegal migrants by U.S. Coast Guard vessels has decreased dramatically, averaging fewer than 1,500 annually. Neighboring Caribbean countries, particularly The Bahamas, continue to interdict Haitian migrants as well. The prospect remains, however, for the renewal of higher flows of illegal migrants, particularly under conditions of political unrest or further economic downturn.

FOREIGN RELATIONS of Haiti

Haiti is one of the original members of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies, as well as a member of the Organization of American States (OAS). It maintains diplomatic relations with several dozen countries.

The international community rallied to Haiti's defense during the 1991-94 period of de facto military rule. Thirty-one countries participated in the U.S.-led multinational force (MNF) which, acting under UN auspices, intervened in September 1994 to help restore the legitimate government and create a secure and stable environment in Haiti. At its peak, the MNF included roughly 21,000 troops, mostly Americans, and more than 1,000 international police monitors. Within 6 months, the troop level was gradually reduced as the MNF transitioned to a 6,000-strong peacekeeping force, the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). UNMIH was charged with maintaining the secure environment which the MNF had helped establish as well as nurturing Haiti's new police force through the presence of 900 police advisers. A total of 38 countries participated in UNMIH.

To spur Haiti's social and economic recovery from decades of misrule before that, international donors pledged in 1994 to provide more than $2 billion over five years in total assistance. Most bilateral assistance is now channeled through non-governmental organizations. Major bilateral donors are led by the United States, with the largest program, and include Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan. Cuba provides highly visible, low-cost medical and technical experts. Multilateral aid is provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the UN and its agencies. All aid is coordinated informally by the World Bank.

In July 2004, $1.085 billion was pledged through 2006 at the World Bank Donors' Conference. Donors included the U.S., Canada, the EU, France, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Greece, Norway, Mexico, and Ireland. The IDB and the World Bank pledged multilateral aid. As of March 2006, $965 million had been disbursed, mainly to address humanitarian needs.

Independence of Haiti

Dessalines was proclaimed governor for life by his troops. He exiled the remaining whites and ruled as a despot. He was assassinated on October 17, 1806. The country was divided then between a kingdom in the north directed by Henri Christophe and a republic in the south directed by Alexandre Pétion. Then president Jean Pierre Boyer reunified these two parts and conquered the east part of the island. In July 1825, the king of France Charles X sent a fleet of fourteen vessels and troops to reconquer the island. To maintain independence, President Boyer agreed to a treaty by which France recognized the independence of the country in exchange for an allowance of 150 million francs (the sum was reduced in 1838 to 90 million francs). A long succession of coups followed the departure of Jean Pierre Boyer. His authority did not cease being disputed by factions of the army, the mulatto and black elites, and the commercial class, now made up of numerous immigrants: Germans, Americans, French and English). The country was impoverished. Few heads of state took care of its development. As the president's authority weakened, armed revolts started, maintained by candidates to the succession. At the beginning of the 20th century, the country was in a state of quasi-permanent insurrection.
Twentieth century

The United States occupied the island from 1915 to 1934. From 1957 to 1986, the Duvalier family reigned as dictators. They created the private army and terrorist death squads known as Tonton Macoute. Many Haitians fled into exile in the United States and Quebec. The former priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide won the elections of December 1990. His mandate began on February 7, 1991. A coup d'état carried out by Raoul Cédras and supported by the business middle-class deposed him in September. In 1994, Aristide returned to power with the backing of the United States' Clinton administration. Aristide left the presidency in 1995 and was re-elected in 2000. After several months of popular demonstrations and pressures exerted by the international community, especially by France, the USA and Canada, Aristide went into exile. He was escorted from the country by US soldiers on February 29, 2004. Armed forces consisting of opponents and former soldiers who controlled the North of the country had threatened to attack the capital Port-au-Prince.
Boniface Alexandre, president of the Supreme Court of Appeal, assumed interim authority. In February 2006, following elections marked by uncertainties and thanks to the support of popular demonstrations, René Préval, close to Aristide and former president of the Republic of Haiti between 1995 and 2000, was elected.

Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince
The government of Haiti is a presidential republic, pluriform multiparty system whereby the President of Haiti is head of state directly elected by popular elections. The Prime Minister acts as head of government and is appointed by the President from the majority party in the National Assembly. Executive power is exercised by the President and Prime Minister who together constitute the government.

Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Assembly of Haiti. The government is organized unitarily, thus the central government delegates powers to the departments without a constitutional need for consent. The current structure of Haiti's political system was set forth in the Constitution of March 29, 1987. The current president is René Préval.
The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (also known as MINUSTAH) has been in the country since 2004. Haitian politics have been contentious. Most Haitians are aware of Haiti's history as the only country in the Western Hemisphere to undergo a successful revolution of slaves. France and the United States, have repeatedly interfered in Haitian politics since the country's founding, and this consciousness also permeates Haitian politics. On the other hand, the long history of oppression by dictators, including François Duvalier is also an influence.

1492 Christopher Columbus encounters what is today called Haiti, landing on the north coast of the island, near today’s city of Cap Haitien
1625 First French settlements on Tortuga Island, off the northwest coast of the island of Hispaniola, are established
mid-1600s French settlements and plantations are established in coastal areas on the western third of the island 1697 Under the terms of the Treaty of Ryswick, Spain cedes the western third of Hispaniola to France
1700s The French colony of Saint Domingue becomes one of the richest European colonies in the world, with such slave-produced tropical crops as sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, and indigo generating great wealth for the French
1791 The Haitian Revolution begins when a group of slaves gather at a place in the northern part of the colony called Bois-Caiman
1804 Haiti becomes independent on January 1, following a series of victories by the revolting slaves over the French
1815-1816 Simon Bolivar visits Haiti twice and receives military assistance for revolts in South America against the Spanish crown
1822 Haiti invades the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo (today’s Dominican Republic) and unifies the island under Haitian rule
1838 France recognizes Haiti’s independence
View of Citadelle from afar
1844 The Haitian occupation of Santo Domingo ends 1862 The United States, under President Lincoln, grants Haiti formal diplomatic recognition
1889 Frederick Douglass is appointed as U.S. Minister and Consul General to Haiti
1915 United States Marines invade Haiti and occupy it.
1934 The nineteen year U.S. occupation ends
1937 Thousands of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic are forced back into Haiti or massacred by the Dominican armed forces
1945 Haiti becomes a charter member of the United Nations
1957 Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier becomes President of Haiti
1958-1964 Duvalier cracks down violently against his opponents, driving many of them into exile in the United States

1964 Papa Doc declares himself “President-for-Life
1971 Francois Duvalier dies and is succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier
1970s-1980s Thousands of Haitians flee poverty and repression in Haiti by boat, often arriving in South Florida
View of Citadelle from above
1983 Pope John Paul II visits Haiti
1986 Baby Doc flees Haiti on February 7th, taking up exile in France
1990 In mid-December, Jean-Bertrand Aristide is elected President of Haiti
1991 A military coup d’etat in late September deposes Aristide, who goes into exile in the United States
1991-1994 Thousands of Haitians flee violence and repr
1994 The defacto military government is ousted and Aristide is restored to office following a multi-national military intervention in September sanctioned by the United Nations and led by the United States
1995 United Nations Peacekeeping force succeeds the intervening Multi-national Force (MNF)
1996 Aristide completes his five-year term in office on February 7th and is succeeded by Rene Preval, elected in December 1995.
1999-2000 Haitian-Americans are elected to state legislatures in Florida and Massachusetts and to key municipal posts in South Florida
2000 The last United Nations peacekeeping forces withdrawal from Haiti
2000 Legislative, municipal and local elections are held in May. The validity of the results of seven-to-ten of a total of 19 senatorial races are disputed by the Organization of American States
2001 Aristide succeeds Preval for a second five-year term, following his success in elections held in December 2000
2001-2003 Political power struggles emanating from 2000 election controversies give rise to increasing economic and political instability and uncertainty in the country
2004 Haiti’s 200 anniversary of independence PART TWO: FACTS AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION Note: Because exact statistical data on Haiti is often difficult to obtain many statistics, as indicated

The French Revolution

The French Revolution generated social upheavals in the French West Indies and Saint-Domingue. Most important was the revolt of the slaves which led in 1793 to the abolition of slavery by commissioners Sonthonax and Polverel. This decision was endorsed and generalized to the whole of the French colonies by the Convention six months later. Toussaint Louverture]] was appointed Governor by France, after having restored peace. He drove out the Spaniards and the English who threatened the colony.
Thereafter he restored prosperity by daring measures. When Toussaint Louverture created a separatist constitution, Napoleon Bonaparte sent an expedition of 30,000 men under the command of his brother-in-law the General Charles Leclerc to retake the island. Bonaparte was influenced by the Creole planters and traders. Leclerc was to oust Louverture and restore slavery. After some victories and the arrest and the deportation of Toussaint Louverture, the native leader Jean des Dessalines beat the French troops at the Battle of Vertières. They had been led by Donatien Marie Joseph de Rochambeau. At the end of the double battle for freedom and for independence, former slaves proclaimed the independence of Saint-Domingue on 1 January 1804, under the name of Haiti. Haiti was the first country in the world to abolish slavery.

Tour of Haiti video

Hymne National "La Dessalinienne"

I

Pour le Pays, pour les Ancêtres
Marchons unis, marchons unis
Dans nos rangs point de traîtres
Du sol soyons seuls maîtres
Marchons unis, marchons unis
Pour le Pays, pour les Ancêtres
Marchons, marchons, marchons unis
Pour le Pays, pour les Ancêtres

II

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Béchons joyeux, béchons joyeux
Quand le champ fructifie
L'âme se fortifie
Béchons joyeux, béchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
Béchons, béchons, bêchons joyeux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie

III

Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Libres, forts et prospères
Toujours nous serons frères
Formons des Fils, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères
Formons, formons, formons des Fils
Pour le Pays et pour nos Pères

IV

Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux
Sous ta garde infinie
Prends nos droits, notre vie
O Dieu des Preux, O Dieu des Preux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie
O Dieu, O Dieu, O Dieu des Preux
Pour les Aïeux, pour la Patrie

V

Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau
Notre passé nous crie:
Ayez l'âme aguerrie
Mourir est beau, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie
Mourir, mourir, mourir est beau
Pour le Drapeau, pour la Patrie