Haiti's History: Revolution, Subjugation

(CBS)  The earthquake that hit the island nation of Haiti was an act of Nature . . . but the country's wretched state of unpreparedness was very much the result of HUMAN acts over the course of centuries. A Haiti primer, now, from our Anthony Mason:

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Haiti was already the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere before Tuesday's earthquake struck. But it wasn't always that way. Once the small island country was the economic jewel of the Caribbean.

In 1492, on his voyage to America, Christopher Columbus claimed the island for Spain, naming it Hispaniola. But the country's emergence as an economic power would come 200 years later, when Hispaniola was divided. The Spanish retained control of the Eastern side of the island (now the Dominican Republic), while the Western side of the island was ceded to France

"Officially the French come into control of what they name Saint Domingue, which is the colony that will eventually become Haiti," said Natasha Lightfoot, a professor of history at New York's Columbia University.

She said that the French enriched themselves by developing coffee and sugar plantations there: "They actually are able to turn it into the jewel of their crown."

Complete Coverage: Devastation in Haiti

To operate the plantations over the next century, the French would import hundreds of thousands of slaves from Africa, many of whom were literally worked to death. But in 1789, word of revolution in France made its way to its Carribean colony.

That, Lightfoot said, ignited the slaves to revolt, and the French could not put that rebellion down. Slaves outnumbered the colonists 10 to 1.

Their rebellion would lead to independence for Haiti.

It would also alter the course of a young country called the United States. At the time, the U.S. was looking to buy the French-controlled port of New Orleans. But Napoleon surprised the Americans by offering a much bigger land deal . . . land the French emperor no longer wanted, after losing his most profitable colony in Haiti.

"Once that's lost, France says, 'Well, you can have the whole of the Louisiana territory, not just New Orleans,'" said Lightfoot.

The Louisiana Purchase would double the size of the United States.

"So the American Midwest as we know it would not really exist without the Haitian revolution pushing France to give up on its design for empire in the Western hemisphere," said Lightfoot.

Haiti became the only nation to gain independence by a slave-led rebellion. Its new flag was derived from the French tricolor, which was turned on its side - and the white stripe symbolically stripped off.

But before withdrawing in 1825, France had demanded reparations for the loss of its economic and human property of 150 million francs - about $21 billion in today's money.

Twenty-one billion dollars . . . a crushing debt which, though later reduced, Haiti would not pay off until 1947. As a result, the young country never really got on its feet.

In 65 years, Haiti would have 22 heads of state.

"By the time we get to the 20th century, Haiti is a very unstable place, economically and politically," said Lightfoot.

In 1915, U.S. Marines invaded to restore stability - and extend our sphere of influence. Haiti would remain under U.S. control for the next 19 years.

(AP Photo)

But nothing could break the cycle of political turmoil.

In 1957, Francois Duvalier, a doctor and union leader, was elected president. Papa Doc's regime became notorious for rampant corruption, torture and terrorism - kept in power by his personal civil guard, the notorious Tonton Macoutes. It's estimated the Tonton Macoutes were responsible for 30,000 deaths.

(Left: President and dictator of Haiti, Dr. Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, center, in a 1963 photo.)

The United States supported the Duvalier regime at the time, said CBS News correspondent Bert Quint, out of worries about the spread of communism.

Papa Doc was succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, a.k.a. Baby Doc. In 1972 he told "60 Minutes"' Mike Wallace, "The aim of my government is to increase the volume of foreign investment, and at the same time promote tourism."

But the Duvaliers' repression crushed the fledgling tourist industry and drove many of the country's educated professionals into exile . . . before the U.S. finally helped oust Baby Doc in 1986.

"I can only tell you I hope we can be of help as this interim government goes forward and tries to introduce democracy to Haiti," President Reagan said then.

Haiti has never really recovered . . . plagued by an epidemic of political coups, and more recently by nature. Four hurricanes battered the country in 2008.

(Daniel Morel)

And now this.

Two centuries ago, in its darkest hour, Haiti rose up from slavery to become a nation.

Somehow it must rise up again.

[nododgingthetruth]

First of all the French Never "really" left. Throughout Haiti's history Europe and the US have always involved themselves in the country's internal affairs causing dessentions (divide & conquer routines), coups, supporting dictatorships that murdered the population and exiled all its intellectuals: What better ways to make sure a country that had the audacity to challenge brutal European colonialism NEVER succeed?; imposing trade policies that destroyed Haiti's economy. There's not enough room on this site for a list of your evil deeds. As recently as 2005 Bush and the French engineered the coup of Aristide. "Left"? you don't know the meaning of the word. What indegenous land have you people ever "really left"? Do Haitians bear some responsibility for their decisions? yes, but you don't get to escape the truth by referring to it as "whining."

[Unlettered]

That is telling nowhining where to go and how to get there, excoriating about his\her own twaddle has empowered good responses; Maybe, just maybe his\her gobbledegook will cease, cuz from nothing there is nothing. We should be having a different kind of commentary and\or conversation, where one would be better informed.
Simply put, word meaning is as capricious as its spelling of the same and putting them together; I\we agree ?you don't get to escape the truth by referring to it as whining.?

[nowhiningallowed]

Some of you are woefully ignorant when it comes to intellectualizing history. The fact remains that up until the French no longer ruled and controlled Haiti, Haiti had a thriving sugar and coffee economy. Once the French left, the economy apparently failed. Interesting that a country's economy thrives under the rule of the French, but when the French leave, Haiti is incapable of sustaining that economic success. Again, this outcome begs the question as to exactly what caused this? Again, the fact is that Haiti was against the tyranny of French domination, and rebelled, but when it came to Haiti doing the same against their own who were corrupt and dominating their own kind in various ways, the Haiti's did nothing. They preferred to rebel against one country but not their own countrymen. And in terms of the debt that France lodged against Haiti as part of giving them their freedom, the Haitians cared more about their so-called freedom from the French as to foolishly give any thought to their future. It's ludicrous for those today still trying to blame France for Haiti's own foolish demise. Sooner or later and at some point trying to continue blaming the slavemaster for the demise of the slave becomes laughable.

[Unlettered]

nowhining... There is no rational for your continually throwing words together; it?s crystal clear your capacity to think is limited, cuz before one ask a question, one should know the answer and\or one?s opinion is only as good as the fact upon which its based.

[AAllaamerican]

It's nice for a change to see some country other than the USA
blamed for slavery!

[mcnwz]

I appreciated the fact that some history of Haiti was included in the program; however, roles that the US played in Haiti's difficulties was not emphasized, e.g. dumping US surplus onto Haiti which competed with their economy; high tariffs imposed; US complicity in the coups that ousted the democratically elected Aristide, ; U.S. support of other dictators in addition to the "Docs"; embargos, etc. also had a debilitating affect on Haiti's ability to gain a foothold and work toward stabilizing their own economy. Even with the omissions, this program informed more about Haiti's history than other mainstream media programs have, especially since most lead with the now infamous comment that Haiti is "the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere" and then they don't bother to explain why this is so.

[Unlettered]

nowhining... has a wonderful way of displaying his\her total ignorance; History is not as you find it or see it stupid!
It?s too bad Americans are so wrap-up in the conserve aspect of conservatism, that educational opportunity and commentary such as ? elaborating on The Louisiana Purchase would double the size of the United States. "So the American Midwest as we know it would not really exist without the Haitian revolution... ? are not seized upon to inform us more about ourselves.

[nowhiningallowed]

...at what point will the French no longer be held accountable for Haiti's own demise and protracted poverty, over population, lack of commerce and illiteracy rates? At one point will Haiti finally take full responsibility for allowing itself to have become the nation it has become?

[sjc_1]

"To operate the plantations over the next century, the French would import hundreds of thousands of slaves from Africa, many of whom were literally worked to death."

When you have slave labor it is not hard to turn a profit. This should be a principle that the wrong wing understands completely.

[tck7200]

Thank you...atleast somebody on this site knows accurate history.

[rporterd]

I watch CBS News Sunday Morning every week. I even record it when I'm not home so I won't miss it. I consider it the only "GOOD NEWS" news program.
My complaint is when there is a catastrophic disaster like 9/11, Katrina and Haiti, all the news programs flood us with updates and that?s ok, so you don?t need to spend more than a couple minutes expressing your concern.

[nowhiningallowed]

France leaving a lucrative economy of sugar and coffee plantations to the devices of the now freed Haitian slave population is interesting. What was lacking in the Haitians that they were suddenly incapable of continuing the prosperity of these plantations after gaining their independence from France? Nothing had really changed other than the fact that the French no longer were in charge and no longer controlled the plantations, so why weren't the Haitians able to perpetuate the successes of the French? Or is this also the fault of the French? Also, if the slaves were so successful in rebelling against the French to gain their independence, why were they reluctant to rebel against their own kind who sought to be corrupt and actually be worse than the French? I guess the Haitians only wanted to rebel against the French, who werde white and not their own kind, who were black. Can't blame the French for Haiti's inability to turn things around. It's all the fault of the Haitians.

[MedStudent84]

Since you know your history so well, let me ask you one question: in 1804 when the Hatians won their independence, who were they going to trade with? The U.S who still endorsed slavery? France? Spain who still had slavery in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the rest of Central and South America? The Brits who were still profiting from slavery in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and the Bahamas?

I really guess economic isolation was the Haitian's fault.

[democracy1]

nowhining--Apparently you cannot read: "But before withdrawing in 1825, France had demanded reparations for the loss of its economic and human property of 150 million francs - about $21 billion in today's money.

Twenty-one billion dollars . . . a crushing debt which, though later reduced, Haiti would not pay off until 1947. As a result, the young country never really got on its feet."

The idea that they should have to pay their former slavemasters in return for their freedom is ludicrous. What did we pay Great Britain after we won our freedom?