Research Paper On Haiti Now By Alex Lizzappi

M. Catherine Maternowska writes a very insightful book on the socioeconomic politics of family planning in Cite Soleil that is both very complete and interesting from the perspective of a student writing his thesis prospectus on a subject that is related to the topic of her book (to a limited extent). Learning about Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, really put the lives of the people living there into perspective, even more so in light of Hurricane Matthew. Maternowska incorporation of history, gender, power, and culture with fertility theory make this an incredible ethnography that recreates how women experience health.

1492 - Christopher Columbus accidentally lands on present day Haiti and Dominican Republic and conquers the island for Spain,naming the island Hispaniola.

Over 75% of people in Haiti are in poverty due to many reasons including a lack in education. Why don’t they go to school? Well they have to walk to school, which is 2 miles to and 2 miles back most of the time(Not to mention without good water or food). Adding buses would be amazing for Haiti since it erases the long walk, and many kids can get to school faster and easier. That will make it so more kids can go to school. So, in the long run, this will create more jobs, hopefully sparking the economy and possibly getting Haiti back to being a functional country. This is a long shot, but even if it doesn’t work, this it will at least get more kids in school.

One of the greatest challenges I had to face was my transition from Haiti to the United States. During that transition, I was faced with a lot of adversity. It varied from fitting in, academic struggles and remaining focus. Throughout all the trials and tribulations that came with it, I was able to be resilient. In my own words, to be resilient is to allow challenges to impact me in a positive way where at the end I can say I am an overcomer.

In addition, “the plantation system—the engine of the Haitian economy—lay in ruins after years of warfare” (Nations Online). This economic isolation combined with prolonged hierarchical disputes marked the beginning of Haiti’s lingering struggle of interdependence among the population.

Unlike most of Latin America, Haiti’s main colonizing power was France, not Spain or Portugal, after France was given one-third of Hispaniola. To this day you can see the lasting effects of colonialism in Haiti especially in comparison to the Dominican Republic which shares the same island. While Haiti, formerly Saint Domingue under French control, was at one time the world’s wealthiest sugar and coffee producer, the tides have changed in terms of Haiti’s economy and it is now one of the worst off in terms of measurement of GDP per capita and income inequality. This change largely took place after the Haitian revolution, which transformed Haiti’s economy to a rural subsistence economy, instead of the capital-intensive plantation economy it had been. As other states, including neighboring DR, developed competitive commodity industries, Haiti never jumped on that export-led growth path and there was overall less investment making its way to Haiti in comparison to other states in the region. Also, Haiti was not a part of the “Golden Age” period of Latin America from 1950-1973. With a brief understanding of Haiti’s background, a more solid understanding of their economic performance, challenges, assets and current conditions can be developed further.

The Haitian revolution took place in Saint-Domingue, a French colony and one of the richest of all European colonies in the Caribbean, on the western part of the island of Hispaniola, a major center of sugar production with hundreds of prosperous plantations. The population of the colony comprised of three groups, the white colonials, the gens de couleur, and the slaves. Many slaves ran away and established maroon communities that were self-sustained. As more and more slaves ran away, more and more slaves were being imported from Africa and other Caribbean islands, which resulted in the high prices of slaves. Since the French aided the North American colonists in their war for independence, they sent several hundreds of gens de couleur to the colonies. Once they returned to Saint-Domingue, they wanted independence themselves from the French.

The French and Haitian Revolutions concluded with similar, yet different goals and achievements. In addition, the French Revolution began in 1789, and the Haitian Revolution began shortly after in 1791. Significant elements of both revolutions include class structures, gender roles, and what the revolutions fought for. Class structures and gender roles explain how these revolutions organized their citizens and what role each member played in the revolutions. What the revolutions fought for expresses why the revolutions began and the goals they were determined to achieve.

The Republic of Haiti has a unique and vibrant culture. It was once hailed as the "Pearl of the Antilles" for being the wealthiest colony in the world. This small Latin American island tells a story of slaves enduring resistance to the some of the most dominant forces abroad. In 1804, Haiti became the first free black republic and the second post-colonial country in the Americas. However, the days of being the wealthiest colony have since passed. Haiti is now considered to be the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. The proud history of this country is overshadowed by alarming rates of poverty, violence, and inequality. This island nation’s government has been plagued with numerous military staged coups and misfortunes. I

Haiti is the second largest Caribbean Island. It occupies a third of the western part of the island it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is also made up of several islands that surround the main territory. The capital is Port-au-Prince. It rains between November and March in the North of the island and between May and October in the South. “Once covered by forest, the country has been heavily logged for wood and fuel and to clear land for farming, and is now largely deforested.” Haiti is divided into “nine administrative departments.” Besides the capital, other important cities are Cap-Haitien and Gonaives.  “Haiti is the most densely populated country in Latin America and has the lowest per

Off the Gulf of Mexico, lies one of the most densely populated and least developed countries in the Western Hemisphere with a population of almost 10 million people. The country faces many natural disaster and challenges, including a poor educational system, lack of sanitary water access, and inferior living conditions. This country is Haiti.

At first the death count was relatively low, in the wake of Hurricane Matthew for Haiti. People mainly focused on the damage that was done to homes and livestock. There was lots of flooding, and tons of livestock was lost. The livestock lost was a huge part of Haiti’s income and will surely hurt the already struggling country, but now as the death toll rises, all focus is on it. It’s been 3 days, and Hurricane Matthew is being called the worst storm to strike Haiti in fifty years. Originally Haiti’s government estimated that 5 were dead, but has now raised that number to about 280. The reason the death toll has risen so much is that areas previously cut off from rescue and aid are now being helped. Thursday was the first day aid was able to get to the south part of the country, as there had been electrical and telephone line problems as well as collapsed bridges.

Haiti was once the first black independent republic in the world and the richest island in the Caribbean. Today Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world. What could have happened to Haiti in almost two hundred years of history? The country experienced repeated civil war and foreign intervention. Haiti is not isolated from the international world. Thus, it was not out of concern for ordinary Haitians that the United States intervened in Haiti. It was out of concern for profit and stability within the United States' own backyard. The purpose of this paper is to show the negative aspect that the United States had played in the government of Haiti.

The caribbean is where a small island, contains two countries within its borders and a long history of conflict. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are two different country, with completely different cultures, from religion, to the food they eat, Two countries, with two different, yet correlating stories. A story of conflict is what unites these two countries. This paper will attempt to analyse that story, and answer how this small island came to be divided into two countries, and inhabited by two peoples of such different cultures. This paper will also take a small look at the results of this history, and it’s effects on both countries.

The foundation for the 1791 Haitian Revolution was laid in 1492, when Christopher Columbus settled in the island of Hispaniola. Since the French took control, the economy was based on small multi-crops and the introduction to slavery. Therefore, this settlement led to sugar production and because sugar is a labor- intensive crop more slaves were needed. Additionally, the French began to settle in the west part of Hispaniola, which started a fight between the colonies. After, the Spanish took control over the west part and named the colony Saint- Domingue, also known as Haiti.