Haiti’s Innumerable Years of Turmoil

The crisis in Haiti is seen by many as a violent, frightening, and confusing time. On the contrary, it is also seen as a time of striving for liberation and democracy. The current happenings in the republic are the result of such things as history, ethnicities, and even the involvement of foreign lands such as the United States.

Haiti is geographically located as an island next to the Dominican Republic. Like the Dominican Republic, most everyone is black or mixed with black (such are the Mullatos). This mix of races occurred in the late 18th century when Haiti was under French rule (although Columbus of Spain had initially landed in the area in 1492) and slaves were a prime source of economy. The relations of slaves and slave owners resulted in the mulatto race, with whom blacks in Haiti still have internal problems with today. At that time, Haiti was one of the wealthiest areas in the world as a result of its useful exports and the slave trade. Haiti soon possessed an even greater title, as the first black independent republic. This independence w

ar was fought along with the rest of Hispaniola under Toussaint L’Overture, who led the first slave revolt. By 1804, the Republic of Haiti became independent, although even today; the republic doesn’t seem to be independent of French influence. From then on however, there have been constant problems within Haiti.

The occurrences in Haiti now seem to be a result of all of these problems. In 1990, Jean Bertrand Aristide was elected president of Haiti. Haitians trusted in him in the beginning for numerous reasons, including that he was a priest. But after a while, Haitians believed he was involved in things referred to as anything but priestly, including involvement in drug trafficking, which remains a problem in Haiti today. In 1991, a coup d’etat much like the one currently in process today, forced him out of office his first term. It was at this time that the United States decided to intervene and put Aristide back into office in 1994. Like today, the U.S. stayed in Haiti for a while to remain stability, but eventually left. His second term started, but Haitians and others feel the e

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