Looking Back

1492- Christopher Columbus lands, naming the land Hispaniola

1697- Spain gives the western part of the lands to France, which then becomes "Haiti"

1801- Toussaint Louverture, former slave, conquers all of Haiti and abolishes slavery.

1802-Charles Leclerc fails to penetrate and conquer Haiti.

1804- Haiti declares independence, Jean-Jacques Dessalines becomes emperor.

1806- Deaaslines is assassinated. Subsequently the nation is divided into a Black North and Mulatto South

1818-43- Under Pierre Boyer Haiti is united, but all Blacks excluded from power.

1915- US invades after racial friction to defend investments in the country

1934- Troops withdrawn, maintains control until 1947

1956- Military coup brings Francios "Papa Doc" Duvalier, a Voodoo physcian, becomes president a year later.

1964- With the help of Tontons Macoute militia, "Papa Doc" declares himself "President-for-Life and a dictatorship.

1971- "Papa Doc" dies. His 19 year old son comes to power, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc", declares himself "President-for-Life

1986- risies discontent forces "Baby Doc" to flee Haiti. Lieutenant-General Henri Namphy as head of governing council

1988- Leslie Manigat becomes president and is overturned shortly there after by Brigadier-General Prosper Avril. Who installs a civilian government under military control.

1990- Jean-Bertrand Aristide is elected president in the nations first free and peaceful polls.

1991- Aristide ousted in a coup

1994- With rising option of US invasion military forces relinquish power and return to a civilian government with Aristide's return.

1997-99 government deadlock. Rene Preval declares the parliament's expiration and rules by decree.

2000- even with rumors of voting irregularities, Aristide returns for another term.

2001- attempted coup by 30 armed men, leaves 12 dead

2003- Voodoo recognized as a nation religion

2004- the celebration for 200 years of independence turns into an uprising, forcing Aristide into exile. An interim government takes over.

2004- Floods leave 2000 dead. UN peacekeepers arrive and US aids in flood relief with more that $1 Billion in aid.

Late 2004- gang loyals of former President Aristide are said to be responsible for killings in the capital.

2005- April: Rebel leader Raviz Remissainthe killed by police.

July: Hurricane Dennis kills 45 people.

2006- February: After spoiled ballots, Peval is elected President.

June: headed by Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis, a democrtically elelcted government takes over.

September- UN launches a scheme to disarm gang members in exchange for grants and job training.

October: US partially lifts an arms embargo, imposed in 1991

2007- UN launches tough offenses against armed gangs in Cite Soleil, one of the nation's largest and most violent shantytowns

2008- Food riots. Parliament relieves Prime Minister Alexis. US announces extra food. Preval pleas for more troops to combat kidnapping for randsom, Bravil supplies peace keeping troops.

August/September: hundreds of people are killed and injured after Haiti is battered by hurricanes and storms. Michele Pierre-Louis becomes Prime Minister.

November: a school in Port-au-Prince collapses on 500 students and teachers.

2009- World Bank dismisses 1.2 Billion of Haiti's debts.

2010- Earthquake leaves Haiti devastated.

March: international plege totals $5.3 billion in post quake reconstruction.

October: Cholera outbreak claims 1,000 lives and ensues violent protests.

November: Presidential and Parliamentary elections

December: inconclusive result, run off in January.

information accumulated from

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1202857.stm

accessed 12/2/2010