The Republic of Haiti

After Dessalines was proclaimed "Emperor for Life" by his troops he exiled or killed the remaining whites.  In a continuing competition for power, he was assassinated on 17 October 1806, the country was then divided between a kingdom in the north directed by Henri I; and a republic in the south directed by Alexandre Pétion, an homme de couleur. Henri I is best known for constructing the Citadelle Laferrière the largest fortress in the Western Hemisphere, to defend the island against the French.  Despite opposition from the mulatto populace, Henri Christophe successfully united Northern Haiti for a period, he established a rigid education and economic code aimed at sustainable improvement for all Haitians.

In 1815, Simón Bolívar, who was instrumental in Latin America's struggle for independence from Spain, received military and financial assistance from Haiti.  On condition that Bolívar free any enslaved people he encountered in his fight for South American independence.

Haitian president Alexandre Pétion provided Bolívar with soldiers, weapons and financial assistance, which were critical in enabling him to liberate the Viceroyalty of New Granada (Now Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela).  Beginning in 1821, President Jean Pierre Boyer, managed to reunify the two parts of Haiti and extend control over the western part of the island. In addition, after Santo Domingo declared its independence from Spain, Boyer sent forces in to take control and rule the entire island. 

In July 1825, King Charles X of France sent a large fleet with thousands of troops to reconquer the island.  In order to be accepted by the “civilized world”, Haiti had to pay damages to France and to the white slave-owners who had already made gigantic profits from the colony.  President Boyer agreed to a treaty by which France formally recognised the independence of the nation in exchange for a payment of 150 million francs (reduced to 90 million in 1838) as an indemnity for profits lost from the slave trade.  In order to pay, Haiti was forced to borrow enormous sums from French banks, Haiti remained in the debt for more than a hundred years with sad consequences for the Haitian economy, the final payment to France was made in 1947.

Boyer was ousted in 1843 and a long succession of coups followed his departure to exile, National authority was disputed by factions of the army, the elite class and a growing commercial class, increasingly made up of immigrant businessmen: who were Germans, Americans, French and English.  Around 1912 and on more than one occasion, French, US, German and British forces allegedly took large sums of money from the vaults of the National Bank of Haiti.  Expatriates funded and armed opposing groups and in January 1914, British, German and US forces entered Haiti, ostensibly to protect their citizens from civil unrest.

Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave was elected president in 1915, and the United States occupied the island according to Monroe treaties of 1915 and 1917.  This gave the U.S. State and Navy departments effective control over key government roles; the U.S. put down several small rebellions such as the "Cacos" uprising.  Haiti's huge debt was refinanced and paid off by American government Officials who took control of customs and the national budget, they transformed the Garde into a modern police force.

It is understood that the US administration dismantled the constitutional system, reinstituted virtual slavery to build roads and make improvements to infrastructure, they established the National Guards that ran the country by violence and terror.  Sisal was introduced to Haiti, sugar and cotton became significant exports, the U.S. supervised the operations of a client Haitian government, Haitian traditionalists were highly resistant to these changes while the urban elites wanted more control.  Together they helped force an end to the occupation, the debt was still outstanding and the American financial advisor-general receiver handled the budget until 1941.

From 1957 to 1986 Haiti was governed by the hereditary dictatorship of the Duvalier family. François Duvalier, known as "Papa Doc" was the President of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971.  A strong believer in the rights of the Haitian black majority, he advanced black interests, and stayed in power by enlisting an organization known as Tontons Macoutes which maintained order by terrorising the populace.  In the 1960s and 1970s, Haiti's diaspora made vital contributions to the establishment of francophone, as Haiti's university professors, doctors, administrators and development specialists emigrated to Africa's newly independent countries.

Jean-Claude Duvalier known also as "Bébé Doc" led the country from 1971 until he was ousted in 1986, protests against "Baby Doc" led him to seek exile in France.  In March 1987 a new constitution was overwhelmingly approved by Haiti's population, President Leslie  Manigat was overthrown some months later in the June 1988 coup d'état, when he sought to assert his constitutional control over the military, General Prosper Avril led a military regime until March 1990.

In December 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected President having survived a coup attempt even before his inauguration, when Roger Lafontant seized the provisional President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot and declared himself President.  Large numbers of Aristide supporters filled the streets in protest and Lafontant attempted to declare martial law, but the Army crushed the incipient coup.

During Aristide's first period in office, he attempted to carry out substantial reforms, which brought passionate opposition from Haiti's business and military elite.  Aristide was overthrown in the 1991 coup d'état, led by Army General Raoul Cédras, and flown into exile, the Organization of American States condemned the coup, and the United Nations set up a trade embargo.

In 1994 an American team under the direction of the Clinton Administration, negotiated the departure of Haiti's military leaders and the peaceful entry of US forces under Operation Uphold Democracy.  In October 1994, Aristide returned to Haiti to complete his term in office he then disbanded the Haitian army and established a civilian police force, René Préval was elected president in 1995, Préval had previously served as Aristide's Prime Minister.

The November 2000 election gave the presidency back to Aristide but it had been boycotted by the opposition.  In subsequent years, there was increasing violence and human rights abuses. Aristide spent years negotiating with the Convergence Démocratique on new elections, but their inability to develop a sufficient electoral base made elections unattractive.

In 2004, a revolt began in northern Haiti and eventually Aristide was forced into exile, whereupon the United Nations stationed peacekeepers in Haiti.  There is much evidence that points to a key U.S. role in ousting Aristide.  Boniface Alexandre assumed interim authority and René Préval was elected President in February 2006, following elections marked by uncertainties and demonstrations.  The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (also known as MINUSTAH) remains in the country, having been there since the 2004 Haiti Rebellion. 

The United States led a vast international campaign to prevent Aristide from returning to his country. Released Wikileaks cables show that high-level U.S. and U.N. officials coordinated a politically motivated prosecution of Aristide to prevent him from "gaining more traction with the Haitian population"  The United States and its allies allegedly poured tens of millions of dollars into unsuccessful efforts to slander Aristide as a drug trafficker, human rights violator, and heretical practitioner of voodoo.  Claudette Werleigh (1995–1996) was the first female Prime Minister and Michèle Pierre-Louis was the second (September 2008-Nov. 2009.