Haiti It is, today, The poorest country in America. Sunk in social, political and economic crises, the island continues to add chapters to its dark and short life.
But despite the violence, corruption and 28 -year -old dictatorship of François “Pope Doc” Duvalier, there is a moment in the history of Haiti that will be remembered with happiness forever: Independence.
The dispute between settlers on Rica Island
But first, the beginnings. Christopher Columbus He arrived at the island where the Republic of Haiti is currently in 1492. There he called the Taíos -Natives of the island- “Indians”, and baptized the area as The Spanish.
For its part, The British, Dutch and French disputed what had formally begun as Aytí. Once France, with the Flag of Louis XIV, took control of the island in 1665he called her Saint-Domingue.
Under this last name was that the French colony prospered and became one of the richest in the worldmainly for its production of sugarthat for 1789 represented the 75% of world production. In addition, he specialized in the production of crops such as coffee, tobacco, cocoa, cotton and indigo.
However, after that resounding commercial success, the island became the cusp of slave exchangewhich resulted in a high mortality rate; The majority did not reach 21 years of age, and died from overexploitation, sadistic treatment of settlers or disease.
The slaves revolution
The natives -o Couleur gens– They did not stay with crossed ones, and inspiredprecisely, By the French Revolution of 1789two years later began its revolutionary process. Under the command of a man of Jamaican origin called Boukmanslaves They destroyed the plantations and executed all the whites living in the region.
This first uprising gave rise to a Civil War that lasted 12 yearsand that ended as the slaves expected; with All French outside the island. He January 1, 1804Haiti declared his independenceand Jean-Jacques Dessalines He became his first ruler, and then self-disorder Emperor Jacques I of Haiti.
Haiti 2.WEBP
His most important order was that of Condemn to death all the whites of the island, which ended with a balance of between 3,000 and 5,000 dead of all ages. “We have given these true cannibals war for war, crime crime, indignation for indignation. Yes, I have saved my country, I have avenged America“Dessalines said later.
Autonomy also brought problems; On the one hand, they had to rebuild a nation that had been destroyed by war, and on top They were repudiated by many nations, of which none recognized Haiti Diplomatically.
An eternal accounts adjustment
When practically isolated from the world, the April 17, 1825Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer signed the Real Ordinance of Carlos Xwho promised Haiti French diplomatic recognition in exchange for a 50% reduction tariff to French imports and one Compensation of 150 million francsequivalent to about US $ 21,000 million today.
If I didn’t accept it, Haiti would be blocked by a French war ship flotillas that I was already on the Haitian coast, so they had to ask for a loan. This is how the Independence debtas depended on French banks, it seemed like a vicious circle.
For 1830 compensation was reduced in half, and the island requested loans from US and German entities. Finally, After 122 years, Haiti managed to settle the debt and formally independent.
Source: Ambito
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