Timeline of Historical Events
1492 Christopher Columbus lands in Haiti
1697 Spain cedes Western third of Hispaniola to France
1791 Beginning of a bloody insurrection in the night of August 22-23, which marks the opening of the war for independence
1793 Proclamation of general freedom, which is seen as a rapid culmination of the insurrectional movement initiated two years earlier.
1803 Death of Toussaint Louverture in Fort de Joux, France (7 April). Victory of indigenous forces over French troops at the battle of Vertières (November 18).
1804 Haiti proclaims its independence from France on January 1.
1806 Assassination of Dessalines, the commander of the independence army. Upon Dessalines’ death, Haiti splits into two rival states from 1806 until 1820. A Western republic emerges under the leadership of Alexandre Pétion. In the North, Henry Christophe founds a republic, which becomes a kingdom in 1811.
1820 Jean-Pierre Boyer, a mulatto general, unifies Haiti and then rules over the Island until 1843.
1825 A convention is signed between Haiti and France under which France Recognizes the Republic of Haiti. In return, Haiti agrees to pay an indemnity of 150 million francs. Haiti does not finish paying the debt until 1938,
1844 Division of the eastern part of the island under the presidency of Rivière Hérard. The Dominican Republic emerges as an independent state.
1849 Haiti becomes an empire under Faustin Soulouque, who has ruled the country since 1847 and continues to rule until 1859. -2-
1860 An agreement called the Concordat is signed in Rome on March 28, 1860, and ratified by the Haitian senate on August 1, 1860.
1862 United States officially recognizes Haiti on June 5.
1915 U.S. forces land in Haiti, which they occupy until 1934.
1946 The Revolution of 1946 culminates in the departure of Élie Lescot.
1957 The Central Census Bureau declares François Duvalier the winner of the September 22 election.
1964 Francois Duvalier proclaims himself president-for-life with self-attributed right to designate his successor.
1971 Transfer of power from Francois Duvalier to his son, Jean-Claude. The junior Duvalier pursues the dictatorial policies of his father.
1980 Visit of Pope John Paul II, who advocates for change: “Some things have to change here.”
1986 The Duvalier dynasty ends with the departure for France of Jean-Claude Duvalier. Ascension of power of the military-dominated National Governing Council.
1990 Election of Jean-Bertrand Aristide as President of Haiti.
1991 A military coup deposes President Aristide in September.
1994 President Aristide is restored in office with the support of American troops.
1995 Election of Rene Préval as President of Haiti.
2000 Aristide is elected for a second term as President of Haiti.
2004 Aristide flees the country February 29 after weeks of uncertainty caused by demonstrations by unarmed students coupled with a separate armed insurrection. -3-
2010 On January 10, at about 5 pm local time, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Haiti with the epicenter about 25 kilometers west of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Estimates are that over 300,000 people were killed and some 1.5 million left homeless.
2011 President Michel Martelly becomes President of Haiti on May 14, after a disputed election.
2016 In February, President Martelly leaves office and is replaced by interim President Jocelerme Privert.