Chapter 15 Section 2

Haiti

A Struggle for Democracy

Haiti’s Road to Democracy1700s – 1800s

The French imported slaves to work on their plantations.

However, slaves began to revolt in the 1790s.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

helped to end slavery in 1801, and bring about

Haiti’s independence.

With independence, Haiti expelled the French from Haiti, in

1804.

People of Haiti are a mix of African slaves and European ancestry and are known as Creole. Creole also refers to the language spoken in Haiti, which is both French and African languages.

Haiti’s Road to Democracy1957 – 1987

There were a series of brutal dictatorships which began in 1957,

with Papa Doc.

There was hope that the dictatorships would come to an end when Papa Doc was removed in 1986. However,

harsh dictatorships continued!

Jean-Bertrand Aristide was

elected president, in

1990. However, Haitian military took control of

the government, in 1991.

Haiti’s Road to Democracy1988 – 1991

Because of the military takeover, many of Aristide’s

supporters to flee Haiti. They were known as refugees.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide

returned to Haiti in 1994, to restore a democratic government.

Haiti’s Road to Democracy1992 – 2002

Aristide was elected president in 2001, but the election results

were challenged.

Democracy was threatened in 2002 when the economy faltered and President Aristide was asked to

resign.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide was first elected Haitian

president in 1990 and most recently,

in 2001.

Reviewing Key Terms

A refugee is a person who escapes his/her homeland to escape persecution

or find personal safety.

A person of mixed African and European descent is known as a

Creole. It can also mean the Haitian language,

mixing French and African languages.