Haiti History 101

So much history...so little time...Haiti became an independent nation in 1804. Before that, it was called Saint-Domingue, and before that it was called, well, Haiti. So many events happened between its foundation and modern times. But even if you're a big history buff, getting a rundown of all these events might prove to be tiresome. Two-hundred years isn't twenty seconds after all! So, where you find one source that gives you a run-down of everything you need to know?This is where this book Haiti History 101: The Definitive Guide to Haitian History comes in. Here's a sample of what you'll read within its pages:The story of the Haitian engineer and father on the Titanic shipThe life and times of the Haitian aviators who became Tuskegee AirmenThe little-known Black USA to Haiti immigration movement How a presidential fall inspired a song that became a classic The hidden stories and secrets behind the Haitian flag The seldom-discussed women who made an impact on Haiti's history How Haiti sold passports to Jewish families escaping the Holocaust Random and barely-known scoops on the different times Haiti turned up in world history, including the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. Revolutionary War, Greek Independence and South American independence not to mention the Olympics AND a whole lot more!Get to know Haiti's history today!

A passionate and insightful account by a leading historian of Haiti that traces the sources of the country's devastating present back to its turbulent and traumatic history Even before the 2010 earthquake destroyed much of the country, Haiti was known as a benighted place of poverty and corruption. Maligned and misunderstood, the nation has long been blamed by many for its own wretchedness. But as acclaimed historian Laurent Dubois makes clear, Haiti's troubled present can only be understood by examining its complex past. The country's difficulties are inextricably rooted in its founding revolution—the only successful slave revolt in the history of the world; the hostility that this rebellion generated among the colonial powers surrounding the island nation; and the intense struggle within Haiti itself to define its newfound freedom and realize its promise. Dubois vividly depicts the isolation and impoverishment that followed the 1804 uprising. He details how the crushing indemnity imposed by the former French rulers initiated a devastating cycle of debt, while frequent interventions by the United States—including a twenty-year military occupation—further undermined Haiti's independence. At the same time, Dubois shows, the internal debates about what Haiti should do with its hard-won liberty alienated the nation's leaders from the broader population, setting the stage for enduring political conflict. Yet as Dubois demonstrates, the Haitian people have never given up on their struggle for true democracy, creating a powerful culture insistent on autonomy and equality for all. Revealing what lies behind the familiar moniker of "the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere," this indispensable book illuminates the foundations on which a new Haiti might yet emerge.

"A landmark collection of documents by the field's leading scholar. This reader includes beautifully written introductions and a fascinating array of never-before-published primary documents. These treasures from the archives offer a new picture of colonial Saint-Domingue and the Haitian Revolution. The translations are lively and colorful." --Alyssa Sepinwall, California State University San Marcos

Despite Haiti's proximity to the United States, and its considerable importance to our own history, Haiti barely registered in the historic consciousness of most Americans until recently. Those who struggled to understand Haiti's suffering in the earthquake of 2010 often spoke of it as the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, but could not explain how it came to be so. In recent years, the amount of scholarship about the island has increased dramatically. Whereas once this scholarship was focused on Haiti's political or military leaders, now the historiography of Haiti features lively debates and different schools of thought. Even as this body of knowledge has developed, it has been hard for students to grasp its various strands. Haitian History presents the best of the recent articles on Haitian history, by both Haitian and foreign scholars, moving from colonial Saint Domingue to the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. It will be the go-to one-volume introduction to the field of Haitian history, helping to explain how the promise of the Haitian Revolution dissipated, and presenting the major debates and questions in the field today.

Did You Know?—Over One Hundred Facts about Haiti and Her Children looks in detail at a land and its people, uncovering the history, culture, challenges, and achievements of a country often stereotyped as deeply impoverished and bereft of any nobility of purpose. Tapping into her expertise in research and her familiarity with the wealth of resources residing in libraries, Marjorie Charlot, a supervisor and instructor at academic libraries, has gathered, curated, and prepared a topically organized collection of vignettes depicting Haiti and her children. Did You Know? presents these vignettes in chapters organized according to themes, including such topics as the Africans, art and culture, civil rights, great families, inventors, the military, pilots, religion, and science. Did You Know?—Over One Hundred Facts about Haiti and Her Children offers its guidance to an abundance of information about the Haitian people and their homeland. If you claim a place for Haiti in your own history, if you find yourself intrigued by the history of Haiti, or if you simply are one of those people with a deep hunger to learn more about the world, then Did You Know? will provide you with an approachable and informative introduction to Haiti and her children.

One of the world's poorest nations, Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Haiti proclaimed its independence from France on January 1, 1804 following the only successful slave revolt in the Americas. As a result of the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), Haiti became the first independent Latin American nation and the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States. Throughout its history it has suffered political violence, and in 2010 it suffered a devastating earthquake, which killed over 200,000 people and countless people lost homes and businesses. The Historical Dictionary of Haiti covers the history of Haiti starting in 1492 with the initial discovery of the island Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic to the present day. The dictionary itself contains over 400 cross-referenced entries on crucial aspects of Haitian history, and it is the most extensive single-volume reference work on Haiti available. In addition to the dictionary, this book provides a chronology containing important dates and events and an informative bibliographical section organized by subject. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Haiti.

Toussaint L’Ouverture was the leader of the Haitian Revolution in the late eighteenth century, in which slaves rebelled against their masters and established the first black republic. In this collection of his writings and speeches, former Haitian politician Jean-Bertrand Aristide demonstrates L’Ouverture’s profound contribution to the struggle for equality.

Reprint. Originally published: Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995.