The Republic of Haiti (Hayti) is a republic in the west of the island of Hispaniola. It has a total area of 27,750 km2. The climate is tropical; semi-arid where the mountains in the east cut off trade winds. The terrain is mostly rough and mountainous. Natural resources are bauxite. The religion is 75-80% Roman Catholic (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo), 10% Protestant. The official language is French spoken by only 10% of population and Creole.
Haiti was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. It was then inhabited by perhaps 2,000,000 natives, but so ruthlessly did the Spaniards deal with the aborigines that within a century they practically exterminated them, having introduced negro slaves in their place.
Haiti was colonised by France in 1630, settling in the western part of the island, the eastern part remaining Spanish, and the western French part formally becoming a French colony in 1697 with black slaves brought from Africa to work plantations. In 1790, the slaves led by Toussaint L'Ouverture revolted, took control and abolished slavery. France sent troops to Haiti who killed L'Ouverture, regained control and re-established slavery. In 1804 independence was proclaimed following a revolt led by Jean-Jaques Dessalines and Henri Christophe and Jean-Jaques Dessalines was crowned emperoro of Haiti. He was assassinated in 1806, and the Spaniards regained the eastern portion of the island.
In 1821 the Spanish portion declared itself independent of the mother country, and assumed the name of Spanish Hayti; but it was subjugated by Koyer, the president of the Haytian Republic, or French Hayti. In 1844 the inhabitants of the Spanish portion rose, and formed themselves into a republic under the name of San Domingo (RepublicaDominica). In 1861 Santana negotiated a reunion of the state with Spain, but Spain evacuated the island in 1865. Research Haiti
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