The native Arawak Amerindians
- who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus
in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In
the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and
in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island - Haiti.
The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became
one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy
importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In
the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under
Toussaint L'OUVERTURE and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black
republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by
political violence for most of its history since then, and it is now one of
the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Over three decades of
dictatorship followed by military rule ended in 1990 when Jean-Bertrand
ARISTIDE was elected president. Most of his term was usurped by a military
takeover, but he was able to return to office in 1994 and oversee the
installation of a close associate to the presidency in 1996. ARISTIDE won a
second term as president in 2000, and took office early in 2001. However, a
political crisis stemming from fraudulent legislative elections in 2000 has
not yet been resolved.
