Significant Events in the History of Haiti:
1492 Columbus lands and claims Haiti as Spanish territory.
1697 Treaty of Ryswick causes division of power between St. Domingue (French control) and Santo Domingo (Spanish control).
1791-1803 A slave rebellion results in a victorious 13-year war for independence against French control.
1804 Haiti is declared a Republic. Haiti, named Ayiti in Creole, the native language, signifies "mountainous country."
1807-20 Following the assassination of emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Civil War between the North and South Republic occurs. Christophe, leader of the North, commits suicide, allowing Jean-Pierre Boyer to unify the country, ending war and becoming President in 1820.
1821 Boyer invades Santo Domingo, and Haiti establishes independence from Spain, maintaining it until 1844.
1838 France bargains with Haiti in financial respects. Haiti, eager to achieve international recognition, takes out loans, creating debt of nearly 70 million francs.
1862 Haiti receives diplomatic recognition from the U.S.
1915 U.S. Marines are sent to Haiti by Woodrow Wilson, and the Haitian National Guard is created. The Haitian people are forced into labor, and resistance grows under the rule of Charlemagne Peralt. In 1919, however, he is assassinated by Marines in attempts to subdue the Haitian resistance.
1934 The Haitian Armed Forces are left scattered throughout Haiti as the U.S. finally leaves the country.
1937 A massacre is ordered by President General Trujillo, and Dominican soldiers kill thousands of Haitians who reside nearby the borders of the Dominican Republic.
1957 Attempts to establish Haiti as a democracy fail, and Dr. Francois Duvalier declares himself President in 1964, essentially creating a dictatorship. Tens of thousands of Haitians are killed or exiled under the brutal rule of Duvalier.
1971 Duvalier, nicknamed "Papa-Doc," dies in office. His 19-year-old son, Jean-Claude, "Baby-Doc," inherits his rule. This successor proves far more ruthless than Papa-Doc himself.
1972 Haitians begin to seek refuge in Florida.
1976 Protests occur when the government's repression of the press begins.
1970s-1980s "Baby-Doc" exploits international help and establishes textile-based industries. Workers and political parties that try to rebel are quickly silenced.
1980 Hundreds of journalists, human rights workers, and any others who object to Jean-Claude's regime are exiled.
1981 Hunger and poverty spread when Haitian pigs are accused of carrying African Swine Fever and are slaughtered.
1984 Over 200 Haitians are killed at Jean-Rabeau, and riots against the government take place in towns all across the country.
1985 The murders of four schoolchildren by a soldier unites the Haitian population against the government.
Significant Events in the History of Haiti Continued:
1986 "Baby-Doc" Duvalier is exiled and escorted by the U.S. to France. General Henri Namphy receives the power to lead the National Governing Council.
1987 A new Constitution is created and elections are scheduled to be held in November. Hours before the elections, however, riots occur and hundreds die.
1988 Military-controlled elections take place. Within six months, the power and office of the President switches from Leslie Manigat to General Namphy to General Prosper Avril.
1989 Avril represses political parties, unions, and anyone who expresses democratic beliefs.
1990 Avril is forced to resign due to riots, and a well-known priest named Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide is elected as President by popular vote.
1991 The Haitian military overthrows President Aristide shortly after his inauguration, and over 1,000 people are killed.
1992 Raoul Cedras becomes leader of the coup regime. In the Washington Protocol, U.S. President George Bush restricts American factories from Haitian trade and orders the U.S. Coast Guard to return all Haitians who have left Haiti in boats back to their country.
1993 Cedras and Aristide sign the Governors Island Accord, in which Cedras promises to step down and relinquish the power to Aristide in return for a civilian police force. After the signing, however, Cedras does not uphold his end of the bargain. The UN becomes increasingly strict in the trade restrictions regarding Haiti.
1994 President Clinton organizes a multi-nation effort in which troops land in Haiti and the coup regime finally agrees to step down. President Aristide returns to Haiti.
1996 After Aristide's inauguration of his four prime ministers, a government is formed under Prime Minister Rosny Smarth .
2004 After a fraudulant legislative election in 2000, national violence grows. A rebellion rises and takes control of many towns and cities. President Aristide is forced to resign on Februrary 29, 2004.