Baby Doc Duvalier and Haitian Civil War

Katelyn Tuttle

Haiti

• Haiti gains its independent on January 1st 1804, becoming the world's first black republic.

• Its history is a pattern of violence.• Succession of rulers being overthrown by

revolution or assassinated.

• Haiti's economy will also be crippled by the enormous reparations it is required to pay to France.

• 80% of its national budget on repayments of loans taken to cover the debt.

• 20th Century the United States becomes involved in Haiti's internal affairs.

• US marines occupy Haiti from 1915-1934.

François “papa doc” Duvalier

• Duvalier won the elections with an official tally of 1,320,748 votes to zero.

• On May 3rd and New York times posted “Latin America has witnessed many fraudulent elections, but none will have been more outrageous than the one which has just taken place in Haiti."

• US raises concerns about the distribution of aid money given to Duvalier. In 1962 US aid is suspended. The following year diplomatic relations are also suspended and the US ambassador withdrawn.

• Chief aide Clément Barbot, organizes the (Volunteers for National Security), or Tonton Macoutes ,a private militia estimated to number 9,000-15,000 that will be used to terrorise and murder people.

• Later, Barbot is released from prison. He begins plotting to overthrow Duvalier but the attempt, which is to take place in July 1963, is uncovered at the last moment and Barbot is killed.

• In 1963 attempts to remove Duvalier continue, reportedly with backing from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

• Duvalier says "I am the Haitian flag, he who is my enemy is the enemy of the fatherland.”

• He is saying Haiti is his land and all the people in Haiti will obey him.

• As Duvalier becomes more powerful the elite will become more and more richer and the poor will be left with nothing.

• The country of Haiti becomes the poorest in the western hemisphere leaving the annual income at US $80 per capita.

• 1964- He gets elected president for life.• He dies on April 21st leaving his son Jean-

Claude. Aka “Baby Doc”, in power at the age of 19.

• Baby doc is not interested in running the government and leaves most of it up to his mother.

• Baby Doc continues as his father did, converting millions of dollars to personal accounts overseas.

• In 1980 he marries a woman who is considered to be implicated corrupt business ventures, including drug running.

• 1985 he gets 99% of the vote in another fraudulent election.

• Because of this people of Haiti being to protest due to high unemployment and poor living conditions.

• 1986 people begin to demonstrate against his government, because of this 3 innocent schoolboys get killed for no reason.

• In 1986 his government was unable to control the protesters and the military asked for his resignation.

• In February 1986, Baby doc and his wife accepted US assistance and left the country.

• During the earthquake of 2010, he returns to show as if he cares about the people of Haiti.

• He was attempting to access the funds.

• But got was arrested because of a new law, Haiti was able to create a new law to take the money in his Swiss bank account.