fwo_1142149 - HAITI - REPUBLIC 50 Centimes Jean-Pierre Boyer an 28 1831

HAITI - REPUBLIC

(1804 to present)

After gaining its independence on January 1, 1804, Saint-Domingue took the name of Haiti and became the first country in the world resulting from the abolition of slavery (but its recognition by France did not take place until 1825 against an indemnity set at 150 million gold francs reduced in 1838 to 90 million). The island is ruled by Dessalines who was assassinated in 1806. After his death, the country was divided into two parts: a kingdom in the north with Henri Christophe (1811-1820) and a republic in the south with Alexandre Pétion (1807-1818). In 1822, President Jean-Pierre Boyer united the two parts of the island and conquered the eastern part of the island which was a Spanish colony. But, despite several attacks, the Spanish part acquired its independence on February 27, 1844 under the name of the Dominican Republic.. A long succession of coups followed Boyer's departure. Power is constantly contested either by factions of the army or by the mulatto and black elites or by the merchant class essentially composed of French, English, Americans or Germans. The country is gradually becoming poorer due to the lack of concern from the heads of state and the continuous opposition of the army.. In 1847, Faustin Soulouque was elected President of the Republic but transformed the country into the Empire of Haiti on August 25, 1849 and became Faustin I.. Despot, he fled the country following a popular uprising in 1859 which restored the Republic.