Haiti hasn't always been the poorest nation in the world. When it was controlled by the French, it was the richest colony in the Caribbean. All sorts of things were traded that went to America and Europe. It was also a very racially mixed society with an extremely large population of mixed peoples. Europeans would have open relationships with Black and Mulatto women...the country was known for that. But something happened, the slave population (which far outnumbered the Europeans) came together and revolted. Led by figures like Toussaint L'ouverture, who had military experience having fought in the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution became the first and only success slave revolt in world history! They not only beat back Napolean and the French, but they also beat Great Britain and us...America. Their independence was officially recognized in 1804, but what happened to all of that wealth? Well...it was taken from them. It's a long story, but it's why previously ousted President Aristide was going to issue a demand of reparations from the French government. They were really robbed blind, and since this tradegy has occured I'm going to restart my research into the Haitian Revolution and the years after independence to gather a clearer picture of events.
After they were robbed, they still had goods that could be traded. But here in lies the problem...you're a Black Republic...the first...and it's the 1800s. NO European nation in going to open trade talks with you. Jesus, America hadn't even freed the slaves yet...you think we were going to trade with a Black nation that had defeated three European colonial powers? The same can be said for Europe, who also closed their doors. I don't know where Latin America falls in the equation...that's something else I'll have to look into. Since the early 20th century though, Haiti has been plagued by European-backed dictators who did nothing more than to keep the nation down. Which is what their European counterparts wanted. Make no mistake, since Haiti has gained independence, it has been the sole priority of the West to keep that country from EVER succeeding. You need only to look at the American-backed coup that knocked Jean-Betrand Aristide out of power to see that. I advice everyone to pick up the documentary, "Aristide and the Endless Revolution." Very eye-opening piece that I need to look at again.
http://www.aristidethefilm.com/">Aristide and the Endless Revolution
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