Understanding Haiti's Instability 

Presenter

Jerry Ducasse

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Maxine Oland, Commonwealth Honors College, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C20, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 2 (C11-C20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Why is Haiti the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere when it was once France’s most prosperous colony? Without the context of its history, it is easy to suggest that Haiti’s struggles are a product of the country’s poor management and untimely misfortune. The significance of this project is in highlighting the historical underpinnings that contribute to today’s issues in Haiti, including the harsh mistreatment of the enslaved people of Haiti under French rule, the debt owed to France after Haitian independence, and the interference of the United States in Haiti’s political and economic affairs in the 20th century. The virtual museum exhibit that accompanies this research provides 16 different “artifacts” that illustrate the interactions between Haiti, France, and the United States. I will use a timeline to present these artifacts from the 17th century, Haiti’s period as a French colony, Saint-Domingue, to the 20th century. The exhibit will include art depicting Haiti and its conflict with the French during its colonial era, legal documents regarding France and the United States’ economic and political influence, photos of historical moments, and excerpts detailing a personal or analytic perspective on Haitian affairs. My work shows the importance of colonial and neocolonial interventions in shaping Haiti’s present situation of impoverishment.

Keywords

Neocolonialism, Exploitation , International Relations, History

Research Area

History

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