A Brief Overview of Haitian History
The Haitian Revolution
At the time of the French Revolution in 1789, the colony of St. Domingue (now Haiti) was home to the vast majority of France’s overseas trade. The colony was France’s wealthiest. A coffee and sugar plantation system was in place, which provided a vital role in the French economy and was also the largest independent market for the African slave trade. Conflict and resentment spread throughout San Domingo, and slave resistance began to form. In August of 1791, an organized slave rebellion broke out, marking the start of a twelve-year resistance for human rights. On Jan. 1, 1804 the nation of Haiti was officially proclaimed.The Haitian Revolution is the only successful slave revolution in history, and resulted in the establishment of Haiti, the first independent black state in the New World.
The Earthquake of 2010
Fast-forward to the 21st century, and Haiti was still in a state of political unrest. The government was ineffective, and scorned by most of the Haitian population. Then in 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving the nation in shambles; hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in the earthquake and millions more were left homeless. The economy was in ruins, and even with the aid of many different international organizations, the nation was devastated.
At the time of the French Revolution in 1789, the colony of St. Domingue (now Haiti) was home to the vast majority of France’s overseas trade. The colony was France’s wealthiest. A coffee and sugar plantation system was in place, which provided a vital role in the French economy and was also the largest independent market for the African slave trade. Conflict and resentment spread throughout San Domingo, and slave resistance began to form. In August of 1791, an organized slave rebellion broke out, marking the start of a twelve-year resistance for human rights. On Jan. 1, 1804 the nation of Haiti was officially proclaimed.The Haitian Revolution is the only successful slave revolution in history, and resulted in the establishment of Haiti, the first independent black state in the New World.
The Earthquake of 2010
Fast-forward to the 21st century, and Haiti was still in a state of political unrest. The government was ineffective, and scorned by most of the Haitian population. Then in 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving the nation in shambles; hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in the earthquake and millions more were left homeless. The economy was in ruins, and even with the aid of many different international organizations, the nation was devastated.
Where Haiti Stands Now
In 2014, despite immense efforts over the past years to clean up Haiti and get the nation back on it's feet, there is still a large amount of work that needs to be done to restore the nation to a state of stability. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians still live in the dilapidated 'temporary' tent cities built for those who were left homeless after the earthquake. The living conditions of the families who reside there are terrible. Buildings are being rebuilt, but at a very slow rate. The economy is slowly improving, although about 80% of the Haitian population remains under the poverty line.
America has recently made a commitment to stand by the nation of Haiti until it has fully recovered from the devastation caused by the earthquake. On Thursday, February 6th 2014, four years after the earthquake struck Haiti, President Barack Obama praised the rebound taking place in the Haitian nation but said there is still more work to be done. He pledged that the United States will remain a partner in that process. At the start of his first official meeting with Haitian President Michel Martelly, Obama said he was encouraged by progress Haiti has taken from removing political roadblocks to holding legislative and local elections that are two years overdue.
"The economy is growing. Security is improving. Infrastructure is getting rebuilt. Rubble has been removed," Obama said from the Oval Office as he and Martelly sat side by side. "Health facilities are beginning to open up. Schools are starting to get back into place, and businesses are starting to return to Haiti." Obama also added, "It's been a very slow and difficult process, and I think we are all recognizing that we have a lot more work to do, but my main message today to the president and to the people of Haiti is that the American people are committed to standing with you in this process." President Martelly and Obama are set to discuss the security issues in Haiti, efforts to combat drug trafficking, and Martelly's desire to build a strong democracy within the Haitian nation.
America has recently made a commitment to stand by the nation of Haiti until it has fully recovered from the devastation caused by the earthquake. On Thursday, February 6th 2014, four years after the earthquake struck Haiti, President Barack Obama praised the rebound taking place in the Haitian nation but said there is still more work to be done. He pledged that the United States will remain a partner in that process. At the start of his first official meeting with Haitian President Michel Martelly, Obama said he was encouraged by progress Haiti has taken from removing political roadblocks to holding legislative and local elections that are two years overdue.
"The economy is growing. Security is improving. Infrastructure is getting rebuilt. Rubble has been removed," Obama said from the Oval Office as he and Martelly sat side by side. "Health facilities are beginning to open up. Schools are starting to get back into place, and businesses are starting to return to Haiti." Obama also added, "It's been a very slow and difficult process, and I think we are all recognizing that we have a lot more work to do, but my main message today to the president and to the people of Haiti is that the American people are committed to standing with you in this process." President Martelly and Obama are set to discuss the security issues in Haiti, efforts to combat drug trafficking, and Martelly's desire to build a strong democracy within the Haitian nation.
How Do These Affairs Relate to Nationalism?
The United States' commitment to helping the still-recovering Haitian nation shows a very positive side of nationalism. This case is a model of how different nations should interact with each other, is an excellent example of multilateralism. By putting aside ultranationalist tendencies, Haiti and the United States are working to build a strong symbiotic relationship, which will benefit both parties in the future.