In the Caribbean Sea of the West Indies, east of Cuba, is an island called Haiti (east) and the Dominican Republic (west). Originally called Hispaniola, Christopher Columbus was ship wrecked there in 1492. France gained control of Haiti (an old Indian word meaning "mountainous land;" which was formerly San Dominique) conquering both the English and Spanish in 1697 (Treaty of Ryswick). The eastern section was conquered by the Spanish and became Spanish in language and culture - Santo Domingo. The western part of the island, Haiti, remained French in both language and culture, but after the uprising in 1787 changed its name from (St.) San Dominique to Haiti.

slaves from Africa were imported to replace the Arawak Indians who had been exterminated by the Spaniards. Intermingling of slaves and masters produced a class of mulattoes who, by a decree of Louis XIV, were considered free and in 1789 granted political rights.

French settlers objected to this and there were bitter struggles between the Frence and the mulattoes. At the request of the French, the English and Spaniards came to their aid and occupied a part of the island.

Inspired by the French Revolution in France, the slaves rose up in 1791 and revolted. They killed both Whites and mulattoes. They were led by a freed slave, Pierre Dominique Toussaint l'Ouverture. (l.Ouverture was a nick name indicating the openings he managed to make in enery lines). It was a battle of slave vs. free. Toussaint achieved his emancipation in 1793 from the French government. He proceeded to drive out the English and the Spanish from Santo Domingo because they still traded in slaves. As a reward, he was made Governor of Hispaniola by France.

Mulattoes opposed his authority. After successfully quelling their rebellion (aided by supplies and ships from the U.S.), he proclaimed himself dictator of the island. Napoleon sent General Charles Victor Emanuel Leclerc to replace him and there was more bitter fighting. He was deceived into believing that a peace could be achieved through dialogue, but was arrested, deported in chains to France and hanged.

Jean Jacques Dessalines, a Black general, then took over. In 1804 he drove out the would-be French conquerors, proclaimed Haitian independence and was crowned Emperor Jacques I.

Hating both White and mulattoes alike, he ruled harshly. He was assassinated two years later. Henri Christophe (King Henry I) was then elected president. He was in command of the northern part of Haiti. In southern Haiti, a mulatto, Alexandre Sabes Petion was president. In 1820, Christophe committed suicide. Petion's successor, Jean Pierre Boyer, brought the entire island under his control. In 1821, the Spanish portion of the island declared its independence. Boyer invaded and conquered it but in 1843, a revolution forced him out of that part of the island. Since 1843, Hispaniola has been shared by Haiti and Santo Domingo, the latter now called the Dominican Republic.

Note: The data for the time line was compiled by Sister W. Virginie Fish, O.S.P.