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Haitian coastal life takes center stage with depictions of fishing and sailing. The art resonates with the rhythmic dance of fishermen casting their nets and sailors navigating the azure waters. These pieces not only capture the economic importance of the sea but also symbolize the resilience required to navigate life’s challenges.

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Fishing and Sailing: Navigating Life’s Waters

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Fishing and Sailing: Navigating Life’s Waters

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Long before European arrival, Haiti was at peace amongst themselves. The majorly populated groups, such as the Taino people, had been able to create their own agricultural, economical, and political system, according to Britannica. As it mentioned, the Taino people, along with many others, "created a hierarchical system that had a chief, followed by nobles and commoners. This structure was useful as it allowed them to easily share things among members without worrying about theft, or other issues." In addition to this balance of power, "The Taino, had created their own agricultural system, fishing, and trade. These methods help them to strive and later form a system of wealth and community". Creating these structures aided in improving life for the Haitians, up until the Europeans came. Conducting ideas like this can better the chances of thriving in any society.

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How Haiti Got Free by Mary Caton Lingold

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How Haiti Got Free by Mary Caton Lingold

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Colonization had dealt major impacts upon the country of Haiti and its citizens into various societal, political, and economic changes. This had resulted in the establishing of slavery for sugar and coffee plantations. White plantation owners, free people of color, and enslaved Africans formed a split in the societal/economical structure. Slavery was abolished during the Haitian Revolution, which made Haiti the first Black republic. However, Haiti continued to struggle even after gaining independence. The damage done from colonization resulted in poverty, political disruption, and social divisions that influenced the nation's future for many years to come.

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Haitians are just like any of us; they're human and we are too. Humans are supposed to aid each other because that's what people do. Many countries around the world have no support aiding them, yet they make it through. This gives us the little spark in our hearts that we as a global nation can unite and work arm-in-arm. Haiti is what's indicating that we take action because their situation can occur here in America too. So we have to understand. We have to understand that doing nothing isn’t an option and actually committing to helping others is what’s best! Understanding is what makes humanity special, it’s what makes us human. So why not stop and just understand.

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Today, Haiti faces many challenges, but its people continue to show strength and resilience. The country has political instability, with frequent changes in government and protests over issues like corruption and poor leadership. The economy is struggling, and many people live in poverty, where they often rely on farming and agriculture. Natural disasters are also a big problem, which makes it hard for the country to rebuild and recover each time. Crime and lack of security are also concerns in some areas, which makes daily life harder for many. Despite these difficulties, Haiti has a rich culture, with vibrant music, art, and traditions like Vodou that bring the community together. Even with all the problems, the people of Haiti are working hard to improve their country, and they get support from organizations around the world to help with things such as education, healthcare, and rebuilding efforts.

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Britannica. “Haiti - Early Period.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019, www.britannica.com/place/Haiti/Early-period.

Cabrera Figueroa, Mariana. “Peacekeeping in Haiti: Successes and Failures | the Pardee Atlas Journal of Global Affairs.” Sites.bu.edu, 2021, sites.bu.edu/pardeeatlas/advancing-human-progress-initiative/back2school/peacekeeping-in-haiti-successes-and-failures/.

Center for Preventive Action. “Instability in Haiti.” Global Conflict Tracker, 27 June 2024, www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/instability-haiti.

DelGrande, Joe. “France’s Overdue Debt to Haiti – NYU JILP.” Nyujilp.org, 27 Jan. 2022, nyujilp.org/frances-overdue-debt-to-haiti/.

Digital History. “Digital History.” Www.digitalhistory.uh.edu, 2021, www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3045.

Equal Justice Initiative. “The Transatlantic Slave Trade | Equal Justice Initiative.” Equal Justice Initiative Reports, 2022, eji.org/report/transatlantic-slave-trade/.

Gaffield, Julia. “Perspective | Haiti Was the First Nation to Permanently Ban Slavery.” Washington Post, 12 July 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/07/12/haiti-was-first-nation-permanently-ban-slavery/.

Maria, and Jefri Ruchti. “Haiti 1987 (Rev. 2012) Constitution - Constitute.” Www.constituteproject.org, www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Haiti_2012.

Labrador, Rocio, and Diana Roy. “Haiti’s Troubled Path to Development.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 25 June 2024, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/haitis-troubled-path-development.

Roden, Isabella. “The Caribbean Indigenous Legacies Project: Celebrating Taíno Culture.” Global.si.edu, 8 Mar. 2016, global.si.edu/success-stories/caribbean-indigenous-legacies-project-celebrating-taino-culture.

Wilson, Samuel. “Google Scholar.” Google.com, 2025, scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C33&q=The+Indigenous+Peoples+of+the+Caribbean%22+by+Samuel+M.+Wilson&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&t=1741829222174&u=%23p%3DrrP-aEcmC9gJ. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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Haitian slave revolution. / Getty Images, Public Domain

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Lage d Lendependans: The Haitian Slave Revolution, 1791-1804

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Lage d Lendependans: The Haitian Slave Revolution, 1791-1804

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Additionally, according to a report made by Britannica, once the Europeans arrived, the Taino people, or the Haitians, greeted them with presents and generosity. Things began to descend swiftly into violence as the Spanish enslaved the native people and made them work on plantations and in gold mines. Overwork, disease (such as smallpox), and mistreatment caused the indigenous people's population to rapidly decline. Additionally, European colonists disrupted the "Taino" way of life by imposing their culture, language, and religion. These colonizers influenced the thoughts and action of the Taino people into a state where they had no control over their own minds. Therefore, within a few decades of the arrival of Europeans, the native population was all but exterminated.

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Map showing the main movement of enslaved Africans, raw materials, and manufactured goods. 

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During the colonial period in Haiti, which was known as Saint-Domingue, society was divided into three, heavily biased classes. These classes broke up the peaceful society and later turned it into something worse. At the top were the white colonists, including the wealthy white people who owned plantations, and the poorer individuals who worked as workers or small farmers. Below them were the free people of color (mulattoes), who were often wealthy but still faced discrimination. At the bottom were the enslaved Africans who worked on the sugar, coffee, and indigo plantations under terrible conditions. The colony’s economy was built on these plantations, which were fueled by the slave trade. Enslaved Africans were taken from Africa and forced to work in Saint-Domingue, where the sugar and coffee they produced were sent to Europe. This hierarchical system demonstrated the madness European arrival had enforced on the powerless citizens, which reveals how harsh the conditions during the colonial period truly were. The brutal slavery and the impact from the French Revolution sparked a desire for freedom, hence leading to the Haitian Revolution of 1791 to 1804. This revolution, led by leaders like Toussaint Louverture, ended French exploitation, abolished slavery, and made Haiti the first independent black republic. Despite the harsh conditions, the enslaved people fought back and created a new nation entirely of peace. Yet, the implications of colonization are still seen in Haiti today, and people in the present are still trying to help these once-victorious humans. Hence, the end of the colonial period and times of destruction.

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2) When did the Haitian Revolution start?

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4) What caused the Haitian population to rapidly decline?

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The act of giving slaves some access to freedom

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Process of taking away the lives of slaves

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An act of supporting slavery and committing wrongful crimes

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An action done to, in support of, ending slavery

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1) Toussaint Louverture

2) 1791

3) True

4) All of the above

5) An action done to, in support of, ending slavery

Congratulations if you got them all right!