Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of US$797 and a Human Development Index ranking of 169 out of 189 countries in 2019. Its funny how only Haiti's bad side catches manny eyes than the good one. With an area of about 10,714 square miles, Haiti is approximately the size of the state of Maryland. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The sixth-largest death toll in history happened in Haiti in 1963, when Hurricane Flora hit it, causing almost 8000 deaths.. 19. Haiti’s very existence is inscribed in its many proverbs such as “Ayiti se tè glise” ("Haiti is a slippery land") and “Dèyè mòn, gen mòn” ("Behind the mountains there are mountains"). Haiti is not some faraway land disconnected from the U.S. Haiti is the first Black Republic and the second independent country in the Western Hemisphere. Finals Schedule | GPA Calculator. The major cities are: Cap-Haïtien, Jérémie, Les Cayes, Hinche, Gonaïves, and Jacmel. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In fact, the Louisiana Purchase was a direct consequence of the Haitian revolt. The generally rugged topography of central and western Hispaniola is reflected in Haiti’s name, which derives from the indigenous Arawak place-name Ayti (“Mountainous Land”); about two-thirds of the total land area is above 1,600 feet (490 metres) in elevation. The history of Haiti is marked with several incidents of a similar nature. Corrections? The range forms the northern boundary to the narrow Cul-de-Sac Plain, which is immediately adjacent to Port-au-Prince and includes the brackish Lake Saumâtre on the Dominican border. Before the Europeans arrived a people called the Arawaks lived there. I beleive one day it will be great again. 5th nationwide for service to veterans The Taíno name for the entire islan… However when he returned in 1493 he found the Arawaks had killed them. Genetic studies show that some of these groups were related to the Yanomami of the Amazon Basin. The Cayes Plain lies on the coast to the southeast of the peak. Tortue Island has an area of about 70 square miles (180 square km). Political corruption and violence, disease, malnutrition and limited access to education were a way of life for many in Haiti, which gained its independence from France in an 1804 slave revolt. Writing Center | Math help room As most of the Haitian writers are from th… Jamaica is some 120 miles (190 km) west of the southern peninsula, across the Jamaica Channel, and Great Inagua Island (of The Bahamas) lies roughly 70 miles (110 km) to the north. This land deal doubled the size of the U.S., adding to its holdings either in part or whole: Louisiana, Arkansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. It was the second country to become a republic in the Americas when it gained independence following a 10-year slave rebellion, making it the first republic in the world to be led by people of African-descent. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access, IOA@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses). In 2004, Haiti fell victim to Tropical Storm, Jeanne which killed more than 3,000 people. More than 770,000 cases of cholera have been found in Haiti since 2010. Natural disasters, poverty, racial discord, and political instability have plagued the small country throughout its history. Before the earthquake Haiti was a beauty country with great people. Haiti, whose population is almost entirely descended from African slaves, won independence from France in 1804, making it the second country in the Americas, after the United States, to free itself from colonial rule. In fact, the ties that bind the two countries go back to the time when the U.S. was fighting for its own independence. Yet Christopher's brother Bartholomew continued to explore the island and Spanish settlers … This was not the only brush that Haiti has had with natural disasters. This migration between Haiti and America forged links between the two countries. According to the Human Capital Index, a child born today in Haiti will grow up to be only 45% as productive as they could be if he/she had enjoyed full education and health. About two-thirds of the population live off subsistence farming and are vulnerable to the frequent storms, which destroy their crops and erode the land. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. are vastly different places: Haiti Dominican Republic FrenchCreole-speaking population of African descent Spanish-speaking population of … The Artibonite River—the island’s longest, approximately 175 miles (280 km) long—rises in the western Dominican Republic in the Cordillera Central and follows a southwestward course along the border with Haiti. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), under the leadership of Executive Secretary James Weldon Johnson, wrote a series of letters for The Nation, denouncing American injustice in Haiti. The backbone of the island of Hispaniola consists of four major mountain ranges that extend from west to east. It is bounded by two minor mountain ranges on the west and south—respectively, the Cahos Mountains and the Noires Mountains. The French continued the sugar economy and introducedcoffee. Find out more. The Dominican Republic is made up of Afro-European mixed blooded people and their roots are deeply influenced by Spanish colonialism. The capital is Port-au-Prince. There were several emigration movements led by leaders such as Martin Delany and James Theodore Holly, who encouraged African-Americans to settle in Haiti. When Columbus landed in the island of Hispaniola on December 6, 1492, he found a kingdom ruled by a cacique, or Taino Indian chief. Haiti, country in the Caribbean Sea that includes the western third of the island of Hispaniola and such smaller islands as Gonâve, Tortue (Tortuga), Grande Caye, and Vache. The only cash crop was coffee, grown on some sparse bushes in the mountains. Considered France’s richest colony in the eighteenth century, Haiti was known as “the pearl of the Antilles.” Resisting their exploitation, Haitians revolted against the French from 1791-1804. The recorded history of Haiti began on 5 December 1492 when the European navigator Christopher Columbus happened upon a large island in the region of the western Atlantic Ocean that later came to be known as the Caribbean. This current flag that we see today has a long history. Before current terms such as "transnationalism" and "Black national consciousness" were being used, such exchanges occurred between African-American and Haitian intellectuals. Within the gulf lies Gonâve Island, which has an area of approximately 290 square miles (750 square km). A long fault line crosses the southern peninsula and passes just south of Port-au-Prince. Important events, famous birthdays and historical deaths from our searchable today in history archives. Haiti in History. The second major range, Haiti’s Massif du Nord (“Northern Massif”), is a series of parallel chains known in the Dominican Republic as the Cordillera Central. The official languages are French and Haitian Creole. One of the most important outcomes of this revolution was that it forced Napoleon Bonaparte to sell Louisiana to the U.S. in 1803, resulting in a major territorial expansion of the United States. Like France, the United States did not recognize Haiti’s independence until 1862, precisely because white Americans worried that Haiti’s existence challenged their slave-driven economy. What are the islands of the Maldives made of? Omissions? Haiti forms part of the island of Hispaniola. Hours & locations | In his 1956 autobiography, I Wonder as I Wander: An Autobiographical Journey, Hughes described his trip to Haiti and his meeting with Roumain. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. After the French arrived in the seventeenth century to continue European exploration and exploitation in the Western Hemisphere, the indigenous population was largely exterminated. In 1908, the country totally broke down. Although the majority of those who moved to Haiti returned to the U.S. due to linguistic and climatic issues, close to 20 percent of free blacks from the northern United States went to Haiti before the Civil War. Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Haiti, The University of Kansas - Institute of Haitian Studies - Haiti: A brief history of a complex nation, Haiti - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Haiti - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Video dedicated to all the Americans who do not see that Haiti is in the state it is because of your government. A monument in Franklin Square in downtown Savannah was erected in October 2009 to commemorate those who fought in that battle. Haiti vs. Dominican Republic (A Longer Case Study) Comparing the 2 neighbors is a particularly effective way of understanding Haiti’s history. Sort out the facts about islands across the globe. Hughes was very impressed by Roumain and eventually translated his seminal work, Gouverneurs de la Rosée, into English as Masters of the Dew. After the Haitian revolt started in 1791, many Saint-Dominguans eventually settled in Louisiana. Considered France’s richest colony in the eighteenth century, Haiti was known as “the pearl of the Antilles.” Resisting their exploitation, Haitians revolted against the French from 1791-1804. Amongst these early settlers were the Ciboney peoples, followed by the Taíno, speakers of an Arawakan language, elements of which have been preserved in Haitian Creole. By 1804, however, local forces beat the French, established their independence, and named the area Haiti. Haiti Birthing Center Fund Raiser Since gaining independence from France in a bloody rebellion in 1804, Haiti had gone through a succession of dictators. It was formerly a colony of Spain and France. Updates? There were other plantation crops grown such as cotton and cacaofor chocolate but it was sugar and coffee that were the most important.Under the French plantation system, based upon slave labor, Haitiwas an enormously profitable operation. Discover all that’s great about Lawrence. Haiti claims sovereignty over Navassa (Navase) Island, an uninhabited U.S.-administered islet about 35 miles (55 km) to the west in the Jamaica Channel. Before the earthquake of January 12, 2010, that killed an estimated 300,000 people, injured over 200,000, and left over 1.5 million homeless, it was estimated that about 3 million people lived in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. 18. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. Once you understand the history of Haitian you will see it is not that different from other conturies. Even before the earthquake, Haiti, which occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic occupies the other two-thirds), was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of its 9 million residents existing in poverty. Rivers are numerous but short, and most are not navigable. Haiti in our backyard The Citadel (Citadelle Laferrière), a fortress built by Haitian ruler Henry Christophe in the early 19th century, stands atop one of the peaks overlooking the city of Cap-Haïtien and the narrow coastal plain. The long history of political and economic instability along with Haiti’s growing susceptibility to natural disasters has negatively impacted the long-term sustainable development of the small island. In 1492 Christopher Columbus became the first European to discover the island of Hispaniola, which has since been divided between the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In 1822, Haiti took over Santo Domingo, the eastern portion of Hispaniola. South of the Cul-de-Sac Plain is the fourth major range, called the Massif de la Selle in Haiti and the Sierra de Baoruco in the Dominican Republic. The third major range, known as the Matheux Mountains (Chaîne des Matheux) in west-central Haiti and the Trou d’Eau Mountains (Chaîne du Trou d’Eau) farther east, corresponds to the Sierra de Neiba in the Dominican Republic. De geregistreerde geschiedenis van Haïti begon op 5 december 1492, toen de Europese zeevaarder Christoffel Columbus toevallig op een groot eiland in de regio van de westelijke Atlantische Oceaan terechtkwam dat later bekend werd als het Caribisch gebied. A big city vibe. However, when the United States occupied Haiti from 1915-1934, changed Haiti’s constitution, and in many ways further contributed to its ongoing instability, many African-Americans denounced the occupation of a sovereign nation. The Artibonite then skirts the Noires Mountains as it flows to the Gulf of Gonâve. Haiti is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland. The United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915, when 330 United States Marines landed at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on the authority of President of the United States Woodrow Wilson in order to establish control of Haiti's political and financial interests. Just upstream from the Artibonite’s delta in the Gulf of Gonâve, some of its waters are used to irrigate the triangular Artibonite Plain. As a result, Africans (primarily from West Africa) were imported as slave labor to produce raw goods for international commerce. Today, Haiti and the D.R. It has an average elevation of some 4,000 feet (1,200 metres). The range’s western extension on the southern peninsula is called the Massif de la Hotte (Massif du Sud), which rises to 7,700 feet (2,345 metres) at Macaya Peak. The alluvial soils of the plains and valleys are fertile but overcultivated, owing to high population densities in those areas. Haiti’s mountains are mainly limestone, although some volcanic formations can be found, particularly in the Massif du Nord. Cuba lies some 50 miles (80 km) west of Haiti’s northern peninsula, across the Windward Passage, a strait connecting the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Haiti has two official languages: Haitian Creole and French. The Haitian sugar economy wasi… Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living in poverty. Tuition | Bill Payments | Scholarship Search Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In 1932, the great poet Langston Hughes traveled to Haiti, where he met with one of the foremost Haitian intellectuals of the time, Jacques Roumain. Estimates of the number of people killed ranged upward of 200,000, and several hundred thousand others were injured. In eastern Haiti the river was impounded as Lake Péligre in the mid-20th century; a hydroelectric complex began operating at Péligre in 1971, but its power output has been unreliable during the dry season. The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Additionally the two countries have a … One of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities. The classical tradition in Haiti had always been distinguished by a strong interest in history, and major works of history in the French language, important outside Haiti itself, were published in 1847 and 1865. Haiti’s irregular coastline forms a long, slender peninsula in the south and a shorter one in the north, separated by the triangular-shaped Gulf of Gonâve. The most northerly range, known as the Cordillera Septentrional in the Dominican Republic, occurs in Haiti only on Tortue Island, off the northern coast. Financial Aid | Loans | Beak 'em Bucks, Libraries | Haiti’s First Flag. Haiti is considered one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, with more than 60% of its population living in poverty. However on 6 December 1492 Christopher Columbus landed at Mole Saint-Nicolas on the north-west and called the island Espanola, which was later anglicized as Hispaniola. To the west of the capital, near the quake’s epicentre, the city of Léogâne was almost completely ruined. Haiti, whose population is almost entirely descended from African slaves, won independence from France in 1804, making it the second country in the Americas, after the United States, to free itself from colonial rule. The various ties that link Haiti and Louisiana in terms of culinary culture, language, architecture, religion and music persist today. Friendly folks. Haiti History, Language and Culture History of Haiti. Haiti is subject to periodic seismic activity; earthquakes destroyed Cap-Haïtien in 1842 and Port-au-Prince in 1751 and 1770. Early History Haiti has a uniquely tragic history. A group of more than 500 Haitians, known as Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Savannah, fought in the 1779 Battle of Savannah. The history of how Haiti won its independence, carrying out the first-ever successful slave rebellion. A beautiful, hilly campus is just one reason why Jayhawks fall in love with KU. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. But one of the fundamental aspects of Haiti is its resilience. The original economic basis for the Spanish colonieson Hispaniola wassugar plantations. The 2010 earthquake is believed to be the worst disaster in Haiti’s history. The surrounding seas are renowned for their coral reefs. Buildings collapsed throughout the capital and surrounding region, including many homes as well as large public structures such as the National Palace, the city’s cathedral, and hospitals. In January 2010 another catastrophic earthquake and its aftershocks resulted in severe damage to Port-au-Prince. The island of Hispaniola, of which Haiti occupies the western three-eighths, has been inhabited since about 5000 BC by groups of Native Americans thought to have arrived from Central or South America. Ask, Advising | Catalog | Tutors As the first black independent country with a story of a successful slave revolt, Haiti was a ray of hope for African-Americans in the United States during the nineteenth century. When Haitians took their independence in 1804, they changed their colonial name from Saint Domingue (the name given by the French) to its Taino name of Haiti, or Ayiti in Kreyòl. Haiti is bordered to the east by the Dominican Republic, which covers the rest of Hispaniola, to the south and west by the Caribbean, and to the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Located in the Caribbean, Haiti (View: A Map of Haiti) occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, with the Dominican Republic in the eastern two-thirds. Deforestation has caused much soil erosion, and as much as one-third of Haiti’s land may have eroded beyond recovery. More than a million people were made homeless. It rises to 8,773 feet (2,674 metres) at Mount Selle, the highest point in the country. Over the centuries, however, economic, political, and social difficulties, as well as a number of natural disasters, have beset Haiti with chronic poverty and other serious problems. Map of Haiti depicting the intensity of shaking and the degree of damage incurred by the January 12, 2010, earthquake. The Citadel (Citadelle Laferrière), near Cap-Haïtien, built in the early 19th century. In the 17th century it was a stronghold of privateers and pirates from various countries. It was first brought revealed 1806 by President Alexandre Petion, but was most recently reintroduced to the country in 2012. Hurricane Gordon hit Haiti and resulted in the deaths of at least 1,000 Haitians. What is the world’s largest archipelago? —"Best for Vets: Colleges," Military Times. Since then, Haitian literature has been inspired by the various phases of turmoil interspersed with periods of peace associated with the post-independence history of the country. Haiti’s very first flag as an independent nation is said to be … Haiti achieves some degree of stability under Jean Pierre Boyer, who wins power after the death of Henri Christophe in 1820. After its independence, Haiti broke into two separate political regimes that eventually unified in 1820. Compared to the political history, the economic history of Haiti isrelatively simple. Two months after his defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte’s colonial forces, Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaims the independence of Saint-Domingue, renaming it Haiti Haiti has a complex, rich, fascinating, and tumultuous culture and history with stories of resistance, revolt, and instability. Before the arrival of Europeans, Arawak (also known as Taino) and Carib Indians inhabited the island of Hispaniola. The lower hills are covered with red clays and loams. The plateau has an average elevation of about 1,000 feet (300 metres), and access to it is difficult through winding roads. Haiti’s shores are generally rocky, rimmed with cliffs, and indented by a number of excellent natural harbours. The soils in the mountains are thin and lose fertility quickly when cultivated. Top 50 nationwide for size of library collection. Human trafficking, especially of children, is also prevalent. In spite of slavery, multiple coups, various occupations, and militarization, Haiti continuously fights to remain strong. During this time, many literary works were produced by Haitian writers focussing on nationalism and the movement for independence. Karstic features, such as limestone caves, grottoes, and subterranean rivers, are present in many parts of the country. Former slave Jean-Jacques Dessalines was independent Haiti's first ruler 1496 - Spain establishes first European settlement in western hemisphere at Santo Domingo, now capital of … Haiti is also known for its illegal drug business with its clients spread all over Central and South America, Europe and the United States. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Haiti's riches could only be exploited by importing up to 40,000 slaves a year, and in the late 18th century Haiti accounted for more than one-third of the entire Atlantic slave trade. History of Haiti, 1492–1805. Plains, which are quite limited in extent, are the most productive agricultural lands and the most densely populated areas. By the early twentieth century, the population was uneducated, poor and hungry. Two years later Boyer invades and overwhelms the eastern half of the island, Santo Domingo, where the inhabitants have in 1821 risen in rebellion against Spain. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Assembled by Kona Shen at Brown University, this website offers a timeline of major historical periods, beginning with 1492, when Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola, and continuing on to 1697, when Spain handed over the western third of … Haiti is an island country in the Caribbean bordered by the Dominican Republic. Columbus built a fort on the island and he left 39 men to man it. But what has really left Haiti in such a state today, what makes the country a constant and heart-rending site of ­recurring catastrophe, is its history. Haiti has a unique history for many reasons, a facet which contributes to its rich and dynamic culture compared to other Caribbean nations. An interior basin, known as the Central Plateau in Haiti and the San Juan Valley in the Dominican Republic, occupies about 150 square miles (390 square km) in the centre of the country. More info », Teaching Haiti Beyond Literature: Intersectionalities of History, Literature and Culture University Press of Florida [Under Contract]. Haiti’s literature has a relatively short history beginning with the independence movement in the country against French colonial rule in the late 18th century. Its tributaries flow eastward and southward through Haiti’s Central Plateau to a point near the Dominican border, where they join the river proper as it turns westward. Haiti is primarily populated by African-Caribbean people with a history of French colonialism.

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