Dominican Republic and Haiti
Dominican Republic and Haiti are two different worlds on one island that are coexisting. This one island is separated into two countries, which was caused centuries ago. Many problems have occurred because of this border and created economical and cultural differences. Many of the world want to believe that racism is extinct but little do they know that it's still all around them. That's the problem that the island of Hispaniola is experiencing today, racism against merely their own. Many things have built up to this occurrence, all the way back to when Spain had colonies.
The only thing many people know is the devastating earthquake that shocked Haiti but there was tension way before that. Dominican Republic
…show more content…
and Haiti both have a colonial background that has created how they are currently living. The division of Hispaniola into Haiti and the Dominican Republic is an example of how colonialism and the plantation system shaped the geography, demography and psychology of the New World. The way it was shaped eventually led to perpetual friction, contributing to the problems they are currently facing. If we learned anything about history, we know that territory was power and that the Europeans struggled for control of the New World. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World where he came in contact with the island of Hispaniola and the Spaniards permanently established themselves there. During this time Spain was only truly interest in gold which made Santo Domingo pointless to them and most settlers quickly left to go to islands that proved to have richer land. When most of the Spaniards left, then the first French settlers came to Hispaniola and established themselves on present day Haiti. Every country needs trade and the French ironically started trade with the Spaniards. But since the islands government was still Spaniard, they didn't want to share and trade to persuade others to expand more on the island and stop trade. They truly believed that this strategy would work and the French would leave without a fight, little did they know that this would continue for the next fifty years. This caused the French settlers to enter into a bitter struggle with the Spaniards over more land. This is how the island of Hispaniola split in two, in 1664, France created a company to signal their intention of permanently colonizing St. Domingue. This happened with perfect timing because Spain was declining as a world power because of all the attacks from different parts of the world trying to coloinze the Caribbean. This allowed Spain to abandon the western part of Hispaniola to the French allowing the French to to legally establish St. Domingue. This is how Hispaniola split in two regions leaving Santo Domingo under the Spanish and St. Domingue under the French. This fight never ended, The Spain kept trying to conquer more and more over the land.
About a hundred years later Spain gave more of the eastern part of the island to the French under the treaty of Basle. Toussaint L'Ouverture tried to help unify the island under French rule, declaring that the island was “one and indivisible”. In 1801, after taking control of St. Domingue in the Haitian Revolution, Toussaint invaded Santo Domingo to turn his words into actions. While battling the forces of Napoleon for the independence of Haiti, Toussaint was captured by the French General but Toussaint’s successor Dessalines carried on the revolution and defeated the French, creating the State of Haiti. On January 1, 1804 Haiti became independent. After the dependency of Haiti, they became paranoid that they would soon get invaded and created the solution that if they want Haiti to stay independent they must have the entire island to be under Haitian rule. So, Dessalines start to invaded more eastern part of the island but pull away when rumors spread about the French naval squadron …show more content…
approaching. By 1808, the Haitians helped Spanish colonist to expel the French because it was an ongoing struggle. With the return of Spanish colonist that returned to Santo Domingo, it was then under Spanish rule. Under the Spanish the colony plunged into economic decline. Since Spain didn't want a colony so weak, they gave independence to Dominicans, which only open them up for attack. The president of Haiti took advantage and invaded the new nation, trying to unify the island once again. From 1822 to 1844, the president got what he wanted, the Dominican Republic and Haiti were united. In 1844, the Dominicans took advantage of the fall of President Boyer of Haiti, and regained their independence. Haitians repeatedly tried to unify the new nation but continued to fail. A boundary agreement was finally signed between the two nations in 1936, establishing the definitive border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The final consequence of the European struggle for control in the Caribbean was the division of the island into two countries. (Lancer, 9) The division of the island into the two colonies of St. Domingue and Santo Domingo resulted in the creation of two distinct peoples and two different economic paths. This influenced the development of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The French quickly developed St. Domingue into the most productive colony of the Hemisphere with the production of sugar. This growth in production made St. Domingue economically important to France and foresaw a growing world market for sugar, so they tried to maximize their profits by importing huge numbers of African slaves. With importing a huge number of slaves, the population of blacks exceeded the population of whites. By 1790, a new demographic group was created; the mulattos. On the other side of the island, Santo Domingo did nothing to develop sugar plantations. Since they were not as wealthy as their French counterparts, and less concerned with market pressures, these landowners did not import slaves in large numbers. This is very important, because slaves were not mainly imported into Santo Domingo, blacks were a minority different from St. Domingue where blacks were the majority. This was the demographic basis for the present composition of the population of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. I mentioned racism earlier and this is how it ties in, Dominicans would want to be called everything but Haitian.
Schools and newspapers spread propaganda with the goal of dismissing the African heritage of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican people are described as a White people of Hispanic descent. However, when your skin color gives you away to being of black heritage, the concept of being 'Indian' was quickly created. It is highly doubted that Dominicans have any Indian in them because the Spanish was the first to settle and discover. This obsession by the Dominicans to define themselves as something as not Haitian and African, stems from relationship with Haiti, going back to the colonial
era. So to sum up their historical background, Haiti and Dominican Republic have fought over land, rulers and ethnicity. Haiti always believed the only way for them to stay independent was for the whole island to be under French rule so they tried to take more land which result in differences. Rulers have come and gone on this island. There was a point when the Spaniards disappeared but then came back or when Haiti had presidents and rulers. Now Dominicans are very stingy with what they are perceived as, as long as it's not black or Haitian. And these difference that they all want affect life today in current problems. In mid-May, legislators in the Dominican Republic approved a bill to allow Dominican-born residents of Haitian descent a path to citizenship. This became very controversial because confusion on if Haitians that are in Dominica should be stripped from their citizenship. It is proved that nearly seven percent of Dominicans population is of Haitian descent but many of these individuals are native Spanish speakers who consider the Dominican Republic their home. Even if they are not Domincian by blood, they were raised witht hat culture and even particapte in the country so why should anything else count? If they were to separate the people like this it'll violate human rights, because it leaves peope stateless.
The Haitian Declaration of Independence was composed by the Commander in Chief, after Haiti officially declared its independence. The purpose of this document was to end slavery as well as gain independence. After examining the letter thoroughly, you see that the he was writing to the people of Haiti. On the first page of the letter, he explained that the Haitians, had gathered for “with one last act of national authority,” pledged “to live independent or die,” (Dessalines,1) and would destroy any French invading force. The Haitian
Haiti began as the French colony Saint-Domingue. The island was filled with plantations and slaves to work on them. Almost a decade and a half after its settlement, this colony paved the way for many changes throughout the French empire and many other slave nations. Through its difficult struggle, we examine whether the slave revolt of Saint-Domingue that began in the late 16th century was justifiable and whether its result of creating the free nation of Haiti was a success.
However, one of the greatest differences in their outcomes was that France emerged as a new, firm government as Haiti staggered with its new independence. In September 1791, France achieved the movement of freeing and outlawing slavery. In turn, Haitian slaves were inspired to do the same by revolting against French plantation owners. This transformative movement of 100,000 slaves was led by Toussaint L’Ouverture.
Haiti is the unequivocally the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, indeed, the country is so poor that its citizen cannot even afford eating foods and Haitian children need to eat dirts to stay alive. [1] Nevertheless, Haiti is the home to the only successful slave rebellion; Toussaint Louverture, last governor of French Saint-Domingue, was born a slave.
Dominicans and African-Americans are similar in their African origin, but they are different “in their newfound slavery-induced cultures.” Dominicans were Africans mixed with Spanish culture. Through slave settlements, Dominicans were settled in Hispanola. In Hispanola, Dominicans were influenced between two ethnic groups. As a new ethnic group formed, their African traits were mixed with Spanish traits (Saillant-Torres 131).
Haiti lifestyle and America lifestyle is different. In Haiti They don’t have the same sources as Americans do. In fact, Most Haitians don’t have Electricity and rely on charcoal for energy. While in America most people are able use stoves or microwaves to prepare food quickly. People in Haiti don’t bathe as much as people in America because they don’t have access to clean or running water. However, In America people are able to bathe every day. In America people often eat 3 meals a day which is breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Haiti they only eat 2 meals a day. Haitians usually eat bread and coffee in the morning and later on the evening they eat fried meat like goat, chicken, pork etc. Americans on the other hand, may eat eggs, bacon, sausages,
The Dominican Republic is different from many countries but specially the United States. Many people go on summer to the Dominican Republic but had they ever ask themselves what makes this small and beautiful island different from the most powerful country in the world (The United States).When I wake up in the Dominican Republic the year stations are all the same, hot, no change. The climate in the Dominican Republic is Semitropical. The language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. Still the culture of the Dominican Republic is unique. The Dominican culture is awesome all types of colors and variety in base of people. People dance all the time. However every weekend is a celebration. I can go to the beach whenever I like to, I don’t have to wait until summer. But what does it makes it different from United States. In contrast when I wake up in the United States it can be cold one day and the next day hot. The climate in the United States varies due to the differences in latitude and a range of geography features. Basically United States has 4 types of weather, cold, not too cold, a little bit hot, too hot. The language in the United States is English. The culture of the United States is Western, but is influenced by African, Native Americans, Asian, Polynesian, and Latin American. United States has a mix culture because people come all over the world, to have better opportunities or just to change their way of life. The weekends in the United States are
It was quite fitting that the main base for the location setting of this story was in New Jersey, which is a quintessential destination for Dominican immigration. Many of the topics of Dominican society that were discussed in this
"Dominicans (Dominican Republic)." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. Ed. Timothy L. Gall and Jeneen Hobby. 2nd ed. Vol. 2: Americas. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 195-199. Student Resources in Context. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
Haiti as a rich history, filled with many peoples’ blood and countless hopes of freedom. With such a rich history, the country has yet to become financially stable because of their past. From the beginning of the French settlement where slaves were brought over from Africa to harvest crops, to the dictatorship of the Duvalier family. Haiti has yet to see a time when they are not in need of help. After the racial caste systems were set in place, many people would not see a truly independent country. When France finally gave independence to Haiti, they did it for a price. After they paid that price, the US occupied them because of their location and many resources. Every year in Haiti’s history as a nation and before has effects on the world today. These effects are not hidden in fine print, but blatantly found within Haiti and those who have been involved with Haiti.
Haiti, previously known as Saint-Domingue, was a slave island and one of the wealthiest of France’s colonies. Up until this point in time, slavery was still common and, as mentioned above, continued throughout the world even after such freedom declarations such as, the Declaration of Independence in the newly formed United States, and the Declaration of Rights of Man in the Republic of France. The Haitian Revolution was brought on by the want for liberation of slaves, and was largely inspired by the French Revolution and the Declaration of Rights of Man. “Even though the early leaders of the French Revolution had no intention of exporting the upheaval, it spread to the colonies, especially to Saint-Domingue” (Ott 1973). This revolution proved to be a major event as it was the most successful slave revolution in history. The slavery population in Haiti, vastly outnumbered the white colonists in Haiti, and therefore, when the slave population banded together, led to a full-scaled rebellion. Revolts would continue to occur until finally in 1793, the slaves got their freedom, with slavery officially being abolished in all French territories in 1794. From this point until 1802, small rebellions continued to occur as not much changed in the daily lives of slaves, despite technically having their freedom. After the French Revolution and with Napoleon taking power in 1799; Napoleon reinstated slavery in all French colonies, including Haiti. Napoleon also sent an army to Haiti to enforce these new slavery laws and Haiti returned to a slave economy in 1802 (Doyle 1943). The Haitian Revolutionaries finally get their win after defeating the French soldiers in the Battle of Vertieres in 1803; the final part of the revolution. The revolution officially ended in 1804, with Haiti gaining its independence from France and permanently abolishing slavery
Several of the problems that Haiti faces today have their genesis in the country’s colonial history. The country was like a toy being fought over by spoiled children. The first of these children arrived in the early sixteenth century in the form of Spanish settlers in search of gold. They enslaved the native Taino population and, poisoned by avarice, nearly eradicated the indigenous work force. Thousands of African slaves were brought in to take their place. Eventually, the Spanish left the island to grab their share of newly discovered treasure in other lands. Tiring of their toy, the Spanish
Early in the nineteenth century rebellion against European authority broke out in Latin America. First, slaves on the island of Haiti revolted against their French masters. Led by former slave Toussaint L'Overture the Haitians defeated France making Haiti the...
The island of Saint-Domingue was made up of a mixture of people including whites from France, creoles, free people of color, and slaves. Once sugar became a major cash crop on the island, an estimated half-million African slaves were brought in to work the land. These slaves outnumbered their white masters more than ten to one and made up the majority of the island inhabitants. Even so, the island had the most secure slave regime in the Caribbean because of the cooperation between masters and free men of color. Due to the difficult policing jobs given to the freed men with little reward, the communication between them and the white masters broke down. Now that the white slaveholders were on their own, it was only a matter of time before their brutal treatment of slaves would lead to an uprising. Once enslaved Africans received word of the revolution in France they too began demanding freedom. After years of civil unrest and vicious fighting, Haiti declared its freedom from France in January of 1804. What makes the Haitian Revolution more radical than the two before it is the fact that it was led by slaves. Throughout the previous revolutions, the main goal was for white men, essentially, to be free from oppressive government rule. There were few thoughts regarding the rights of slaves, even though they too were men. The fact that this group of people were able to remove the colonial authority and establish their own country during this period of time was particularly radical and unheard
Haiti was once an economic power when France held claim to the Eastern Part of Hispaniola, then named St. Domingue. It was a French colony flourishing with coffee and sugar. Eventually the ideals of the French Revolution - Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity - made its way to the colonies resulting in a revolution. Haiti was the first slave-led revolution and declared its independence as a republic on January 1, 1804. After their declaration of independence, things started to make a turn for the worst. In 1934 the U.S. forces occupied Haiti to establish stability. The U.S. appointed heads of state but the real power was present in the U.S. occupiers, whereas the heads of state are just figureheads. Haiti’s economy dwindled further down when France demanded reparations of 150 million francs, which wasn’t paid off until 1947. In 65 years, Haiti had 22 heads of state.” In 1957 Francois Duvalier is elected president. He later “creates a totalitarian dictatorship and in 1964 declares himself president-for-life.” This is where Haiti’s political instability really begins.