Haiti is very rich in history, and was the first Black country to win its independence. It's the second largest island in the Greater Antilles and shares the Caribbean archipelago with the Dominican Republic. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the island and the Spanish occupation of Haiti went from 1492 to 1625. In 1697, Spain ceded the western third of Hispaniola to France. Toussaint Louverture was the best-known leader of the Haitian Revolution and Jean-Jacques Dessalines was the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1805 constitution. Both are the most revered Haitian heroes. But despite their rich history, Haitians have faced political instability: the Duvalier Era (1957-1986), then Jean-Bertrand Aristide. They also faced natural disasters: Hurricane Gordon (1994), Tropical Storm Jeanne (2004) and a devastating magnitude-7.0 earthquake on 12 January 2010 followed by a cholera outbreak. But Haitians are resourceful and resilient, learn more about their cultural heritage and how their initiatives are transforming the country!
