Biography of Haiti

Official Name: Republic of Haiti

Form of government: Republic

Capital: Port-Au-Prince

Population: ~9,035,536

Official languages: French, Creole

Money/Currency: Gourde

Area: 10,714 square miles                         

Geography

Haiti is in the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola between the Caribbean sea and the North Atlantic ocean. This small, tropical country is west of the Dominican Republic and is south of Cuba. Haiti is a very mountainous land. The mountain peaks reach over 8000 feet.

Nature

The tropical  climate and trade winds produce warm temperatures for most of the year. The country is moutainous, but the coastline is flat and rich in sea life and coconut trees. Royal palm trees are prevalent here and can reach 60 feet tall. There has been mass deforestation in order to make way for farm land and provide supplies for the population.

History

    Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola in 1492, and Haiti became a Spanish colony. The Spanish committed a mass amount of genocides against the native people,enslaved the Afrikans, and imported them to work in the colony. The French took over the colony in the 1600s and increased production in many crops such as coffee, cotton, and sugarcane. The enslaved Afrikans revolted against French rule and gained independence from France in January 1804.

    In 1957,dictator Francois Duvalier ruled the country,and deep poverty was hidden by strong government controls. The government killed many people disagreed with Duvalier's government. Many Haitians left the country and moved to safety in other countries. Duvalier's government ended in 1986.

People & Culture

The people in the north have a Creole accent, and are influenced by the Dominican Republic neighbors. The population is 95% black and 5% white.Haitian parents, like most other parents are strict, but very affectionate. The extended family often lives with the family in tight quarters. Haitians attend folk dances and voodoo ceremonies. About half the population practices voodoo,which is a mixture of traditions that many enslaved Afrikans brought to the island that were merged with Catholic beliefs. carnival and new year's day are the biggest holidays for most Haitians. The Haitian diet consists of local vegetables and fruits, along with some spicy meat dishes.