Haiti

Haiti ﻿By: Lilian Durand In 1492, Columbus discovered Haiti. It's capitol, Cap Francais, was a regimen of extraordinary cruelty; the 500,000 slaves taken by the french were starved and buried alive for minor offenses. In 1802 the convention of Paris reintroduces slavery which brings on more rebellions and massacres. Rivalry continues among the whites, the mulatto elite, and the blacks in 1843-1915. In 1915 Americans invade the country and stay in haiti for 19 years. Finally, in 1934, the Americans leave haiti. Currently, Haiti is recovering from an earthquake (catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw) that left 230,000 people dead and 1.6 million homeless. ||= **History Timeline** ||< **Historical Conflicts**
 * < **History Summary**

Beginning in 1758, the white landowners, or grands blancs, discriminated against the affranchis (free blacks--people of color). Statutes forbade affranchis from taking up certain professions, marrying whites, wearing European clothing, carrying swords or firearms in public, or attending social functions where whites were present. The restrictions eventually became so detailed that they essentially defined a caste system. (labeling) However, regulations did not restrict the affranchis' purchase of land, and some eventually gathered substantial holdings. The mounting debt of the white planters to the affranchis provided further motivation for racial discrimination. || In 1802 several battles took place between France and Haiti during the Haitian Revolution. The first major battle was named after the Fort of **Crête-à-Pierrot**. The siege of the fort, occupied by Haitian troops, took place from March 4th to the 24th. More sieges took place in this battle but this is the most significant. The second major battle was **Ravine-à-Couleuvres** and it took place on February 23, 1802. This battle was won by Napoleon's army. The third and most famous major battle, **The Battle of** **Vertieres,** took place on November 18, 1803. The Haitians, led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Alexandre Petion, defeated the French troops who were under General Rochambeau. In 1804, Led by the slave Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Afro-Haitians revolted and drove Napoleon's army off the island. This event was an accomplishment that is almost as significant as the U.S. and French revolutions. ||~ **Flag and Significance** The Haitian flag is an adaptation of the French national flag. The blue stripe represents the union of black Haitians and mulatto Haitians, who are represented by the red stripe. ||= **1) Map of my Country** Each village or town has a holiday for the local patron saint, celebrated with a morning mass, daytime festival, and evening ball. The holiday, Rara, is a more traditional version of a carnival. Haiti's national holidays include New Year's, which is also Independence Day; National Heroes Day; Constitution Day; Labor or Agriculture Day; Easter; Flag Day; Fête Dieu, which marks the institution of the sacrament or communion (first Thursday in June); and Christmas.
 * < **Historical Enemies**
 * 2) World map with my country highlighted**[[image:http://www.crittersweb.com/Haiti-Mission-2009/image/Haiti-worldmap.gif width="239" height="242" link="Haiti World Map"]] ||
 * < **Cultures and Traditions**

The arts of haiti include music and dancing. Haitian artists and sculptors are known for there unique images and striking colors.

||< **Traditional Clothing** Haitians don't really have any traditional clothing. The typical dress style for women is usually light, loose fitted, bright patterned clothing and wide-brimmed straw hats. Men wear short sleeved-shirts and cotton trousers. Women usually sew their family's clothes themselves from the cheapest available materials.

|| **Traditional Foods**

** Haitian food ** Haiti’s food is distinctly French and Creole based, giving Haitian food a unique flavor from other Caribbean nations. The average Haitian’s diet uses mostly rice, corn, beans, yams or millet. Tropical fruits are native to the island including mango, coconut, guava, avocado and pineapples. Popular beverages are made with fresh fruit. ||