A TIMELINE OF HAITI
By Tim Lambert
1492 Christopher Columbus lands on the island of Hispaniola
1644 The French found Port-de-Paix
1697 The French and the Spanish agree to divide the island of Hispaniola between them
1750 Haiti exports sugar and coffee but the plantations are worked by a huge number of slaves
1791 The slaves in Haiti rise in rebellion
1793 The French abolish slavery
1797 Toussaint is made commander of the French army in Hispaniola
1804 Haiti becomes independent
1825 France recognises Haiti but the French demand compensation for the land plantation owners lost. It is not fully paid until 1887.
1833 Britain recognises Haiti
1842 President Boyar is overthrown
1862 The USA recognises Haiti
1915 After a long period of political instability the USA sends marines to protect its business interests in Haiti
1934 The USA withdraws its marines from Haiti
1946 The president of Haiti is overthrown in a coup
1957 Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) is elected president
1964 Duvalier makes himself president for life. He dies this year and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) becomes president.
1986 Duvalier goes into exile
1990 Elections are held in Haiti
2003 Voodoo is made an official religion in Haiti
2006 Aristide is elected president of Haiti
2010 Haiti is devastated by an earthquake