ADVERTISEMENT


History

We have pictures of some of the best historical sites in Haiti, including The National palace, The Citadelle, San Souci palace, and many historical buildings that contributed to the history of Haiti

Haiti played a critical role in US independence

The Haitian revolution that started in August in 1791, defeated Napoleon's army in 1803 in what has become known as the most successful slave revolt in history.

This Haitian revolution created the first independent state in Latin America and the first black-led nation in the world. One of the many beneficiaries of this successful revolt is the United States of America.

Before the Haitian Revolution, Saint-Domingue(Haiti), the must successful colony for France at the time was furnishing 40 percent of the world's sugar.

Haiti played a critical role in the independence of the United states. As an allied to America during the American revolution, France used Saint-Domingue(Haiti) as a critical way station for French military assistance to United States. In addition, thousands of French troops from Saint-Domingue helped take Savannah.

Read more →  


 

A call to boycott all fake Soup Joumou out there

This must be stopped and it must be done sooner rather than later. We must keep the integrity of the Haitian Pumpkin Soup, better known as Soup Joumou or Haitian Independence soup. Let me be direct, Haitian Soup Joumou must be made with beef and not chicken. The rich beef and bone marrow, was missing. Call a soup made with Chicken anything you want, but please don't call it Soup Joumou.

I have noticed a recent trend to move to a Soup Joumou made of Chicken and not beef as it is supposed to be. You might say that "Roland Mache Frite Anpil Kay Moun" or " Roland go out a lot to eat in people's houses". I don't care. However, last January, I was invited to eat my Soup Joumou in 5 homes, mainly Haitian friends and family members. I have got to tell you I was disappointed. Three of those houses served me the Soup Joumou made with chicken and not beef. I was so disappointed to the point I almost left without eating the Soup. Reasoning finally wan and I decided to take it home so that I could eat them during the week.

Read more →  


 

September 30, 1991 - A Military Coup Deposes Jean Bertrand Aristide

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a Roman Catholic priest of the Salesian order who later turned into a Haitian politician, became Haiti's first elected president by winning the Haitian first free democratic election between 1990 and 1991, with 67% of the votes and became the President of the nation on February 7, 1991. However, he was deposed on September 30, 1991. Aristide was ousted in a coup led by Haitian Army General Raoul Cédras, Army Chief of Staff Phillipe Biamby and Chief of the National Police, Michel François. His life was saved by the intervention of the US, French and Venezuelan diplomats and he was sent into exile. He lived in there until October 15, 1994, when the Haitian military, faced with a U.S. invasion under Clinton, agreed to let Aristide return to power and he resumed his presidency.

Read more →  


 

September 24, 1791, Concordat De Damiens Granting Political Rights to the Affranchis, signed

It was on this date, September 24, 1791, that the Concordat De Damiens was signed, Granting Political Rights to the Affranchis.

The word "Affranchi" means a liberated slave who is free from legal, social, or political restrictions, but it was used to refer pejoratively to mulattoes. In 1789, Saint-Domingue had an estimated population of 556,000, including roughly 500,000 African slaves and 24,000 affranchis. The affranchis were mostly free mulattoes (people of mixed African and European descent) or black. The affranchis were sometimes slave owners themselves and roughly half of the affranchis were freed people of mixed race. They wanted to be rich like Europeans, but were afraid of the slave majority. Haitian society was deeply fragmented by skin color, class, and gender. In the late 18th century, knowing the weight of Haiti in the French economy, the royalists attempted to exploit the slave revolution to weaken the French Girondins. On August 22, 1791, the first alliance between blacks and mulattos (including Petion and Beauvais) defying the racist ideology of whites was formed and that ended in the victory of the freedmen and the signing of the Concordat de Damiens on September 24, 1791, granting political or voting rights to the affranchis.

Read more →  


 

History - September 18, 1792 - Second Civil Commission arrived in Cap-Francais

On this date, September 18, 1792, the Second Civil Commission, comprising Léger-Félicité Sonthonax, Polvérel, and Ailhaud, arrived in Cap-Français to execute the law of 4 April which was to restore order in the colony

Saint-Dominique was the richest French colony, because it was the center from where half of the world's sugar was produced and this was achieved with heavy exploitation of African slaves imported from Africa. Its history is inextricably linked to Haiti's colonial past and struggle for independence. In 1791, Cap-Haïtien was captured by Toussaint L'Ouverture, the leader of the slave rebellion and became the center of slave uprisings.

Read more →  


 

History - September 1994, De Facto Military Gov. Resigns At the Request of the US

Joseph Raoul Cédras is a former military officer, and was de facto ruler of Haiti (September 30, 1991 - October 10, 1994). Cédras was a Lieutenant General in the Forces Armées d'Haïti (the Haitian army) and was responsible for the 1991 Haitian coup d'état which ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on 30 September 1991. He was educated in the United States and was a member of the US-trained Leopard Corps and received training from the Spanish military. This former Haitian military strongman resigned in September 1994 at the request of the U.S and in exchange of a million dollar-plus "golden parachute" offer to resign and go into exile, including the rental of three of his houses at $5,000 a month. As part of a deal to avoid arrest, he left for Panama and allowed the return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide whom he ousted by a coup in September 1991. The Panamanian government provided Cedras and his family with security only during their first two weeks in the country, as a courtesy.

Read more →  


 

It was in September 1804 that Dessalines proclaimed himself Emperor of Haiti

In 1758, Jean-Jacques Dessalines was born in Central West Africa. He was enslaved in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti). His biography is a mix of legend and history. However, most historians believe that he was born in Saint-Domingue as Jean-Jacques Duclos, the name of his father was adopted it from his owner. Dessalines started his career as a field hand, rose up to the role of foreman. When he was around age 30, he was sold to a free black man named Dessalines and his surname was changed again. Dessalines served as an officer in the French army when the colony was trying to resist the Spanish and British invaders. In 1791, he joined the slave revolution that broke out in the colony and met the rising military commander Toussaint Bréda (later known as Toussaint L'Ouverture). Gradually, in the decade that followed, Dessalines established himself as a lieutenant of the black leader Toussaint L'Ouverture, who became the governor-general of Saint-Domingue with French support as a reward for his loyalty to France.

Read more →  


 

Alvin P. Adams Jr., key figure during Jean-Bertrand Aristide, died

We learned that former US Envoy Alvin P. Adams Jr. died on October 10, 2015. Many Haitians would remember him for his active role during the government of Jean Bertrand Aristide and his negotiation in the 1990s with General Prosper Avril.

Mr. Adams who was the US envoy to Haiti from 1989-1992, was appointed under Presidents George Bush. He was the one who persuaded Lt. Gen. Prosper Avril to leave power in march 1990 and also managed to get him out of the country via a United States Air Force jet.

This move actually paved the way for the ascension of Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. Also in the the same year, a military coup overthrew Aristide from power. Alvin Philip Adams Jr. also played a key role in negotiating his exile to Venezuela. Jean Bertrand returned to power in 1994.

Read more →  


 

The 209th anniversary of the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines

Here is a report of the activities that took place in Pont Rouge on Saturday, October 17, 2015 to commemorate the 209th anniversary of the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. We also witnessed the unveiling of the inaugural plaque of Memorial Jean Jacques Dessalines.

WATCH VIDEO:
The 209th anniversary of the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines

On Saturday, October 17th, 2015, as part of the commemoration of the 209th death anniversary of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, President Martelly went to Pont Rouge in Port-au-Prince, to pay special tribute to the Founding Father of the Nation. The first part of the official commemoration ceremony was lying of a wreath at the foot of the monument of Jean-Jacques Dessalines and remembering his contribution to the nation. Thereafter, the President proceed to unveil an inaugural plaque of Memorial Jean Jacques Dessalines. Before the commemoration ceremony ended at Marchand Dessalines which was the former capital of Dessalines, the President attended a requiem mass followed by the Te Deum and made a floral offering at the foot of the Monument of the Father of the Nation.

Read more →  


 

100 Years Anniversary of US Occupation of Haiti

The U.S occupation of Haiti began on 28 July 1915 by the U.S. Marines, to protect its citizens from civil unrest and that lasted until 1934. It is also often recalled as an attempt to finance US efforts in the first European World War through the complete control of Haiti's revenue, generated from the export of sugar, coffee, banana, sisal and rubber. Thus, 28 July 2015 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the US occupation in Haiti.

While the present UN military force (MINUSTAH) is reaching its 11th year, many political observers are watchful to find similarity between the earlier occupation and the present occupation by the MINUSTAH. In October 2010, the UN soldiers from Nepal had introduced cholera epidemic in the country that took over 8000 lives. Moreover, the present foreign domination has become the root causes of several violations at all possible levels, whether it is economic, human, civil, cultural or key decisions involving country's progress. With their extreme negative consequences, a collective reflection is very important because it has enough potential to inspire patriotism.

Read more →  


 

Our objective is to share with you news and information about Haiti and the people of Haiti. Traditions, habits and the way we were  or  grew are alive in this site. We highly recommend that you Subscribe to our Newsletter and also share with us some of the things that are memorable and made us unique people.