#527: U.S.-Haiti Relations Chronology (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:nozier@tradewind.net

U.S.-Haiti Relations Chronology By The Associated Press 

Chronology of relations between Haiti and the United States:

-1804: Haiti wrests independence from France.

-1849-1913: U.S. warships anchor in Haitian waters 26 times to protect
Americans during more than 100 civil wars, coups,
insurrections.

-1866: Washington recognizes Haiti as independent nation.

-1915-34: Political turmoil prompts U.S. Marine occupation; about 10,000
Haitians die resisting. Americans build up
infrastructure.

-1957: Francois ``Papa Doc'' Duvalier comes to power. Terrorizes Haiti
with private militia, but United States tolerates regime
to balance communist Cuba.

-1986: Jean-Claude ``Baby Doc'' Duvalier loses power under U.S.
pressure. Haitian military aborts November 1987 election
in bloodshed.

-1991: Washington imposes economic sanctions to punish army coup that
ousts President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, elected in
Haiti's first free election in 1990.

-1994: President Clinton imposes total embargo as number of Haitian
refugees swells. In September, he sends 20,000 soldiers
as part of multinational force to restore Aristide to power.

-March 1995: United Nations takes over peacekeeping command. U.S.
contingent reduced to 3,000 soldiers, comprising
nearly half U.N. force.

-June 1995: Relations sour after chaotic election that opposition
parties charge was rigged to favor Aristide's party. Majority of
parties boycott subsequent elections, which international observers say
were fraudulent.

-November 1997: Peacekeepers start withdrawing. About 500 non-combat
U.S. soldiers remain, building roads, bridges,
wells and fixing schools.

-August 1999: U.S. announces end of permanent military mission, to be
replaced by rotating reservists.