The beautiful island of Haiti, roughly under the size of Maryland state, is located in the Caribbean ocean. As sited from Encarta Encyclopedia, the Republic of Haiti, the first European colony of the New World, is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, and the east by the Dominican Republic. Christopher Columbus upon landing, christened the entire Island ‘Hispaniola’. The main inhabitants of the Island were Caribs and Arwaks who called the island ‘Ayiti.’

The western part of the Island was ceded to the French in 1697, which went on to become the most prosperous colony of the New World. Its chief exports were Indigo, cocoa, sugar and cotton. In 1791, a civilian slave revolt resulted in the abolition of slavery under the command of General Toussaint Louverture, who was a former slave.

France attempted in 1802 to restore its hegemony over Haiti by sending an expeditionary force, however they were quickly extinguished. Haiti declared its independence on Jan. 1, 1804 making it the first black independent nation to declare independence and became a model for other black nations who sought independence from European Imperialists.

Haiti, like many Latin American nations of the early nineteenth century, has had a history of political instability and violence. In 1915, during World War I, the United States invaded Haiti and the U.S. military occupation continued until August 15, 1934.

In an attempt to initiate changes to the shaken country, Catholic Priest, Jean Bertrand Aristide in 1990, was elected as president. Seven months into office he was over thrown in a military coup. Three years later after an international embargo, a blockade and threat of U.S. invasion, Aristide was restored to his position as President. According to the Associated Press, in May of 2000 Aristide’s party swept the presidential election that observers say were flawed. Mr. Aristide intends to serve out his term until its expiration in 2006, however, many civilians are challenging his presence due to his lack of accomplishments for the country in his past decade in power.