| Year |
Date |
Event |
| 1749 |
|
The city of Port-au-Prince was founded by Charles Burnier, Marquis of Larnage and named the capital of Saint-Domingue. |
| 1751 |
|
Slave rebellions in northern Saint-Domingue, led by François Mackandal, began. |
| 1758 |
|
Mackandal was captured and publicly executed in Cap-Français. |
| 1778 |
|
Volunteer Haitian slaves, led by French admiral Count d'Estaing, left for Savannah, Georgia to fight against the British in the American Revolutionary War. |
| 1791 |
February 25 |
Vincent Ogé and Jean-Baptiste Chavannes, proponents of equal rights for free blacks and mulattos and leaders of an armed rebellion, were publicly executed in Cap-Français. |
| August 7 |
The Conseil des Représentants de la Commune was founded by affranchis to demand equal rights. Pinchinat was named president of the council. |
| August 14 |
Haitian Revolution: Boukman Dutty held a Vodou ceremony in Bois-Caïman, where hundreds of slaves vowed to die for liberty. |
| August 20 |
A force of affranchis and slaves defeated the Europeans near Port-au-Prince. |
| August 22 |
Rebel leader Dutty Boukman was killed in a major revolt led by himself, Jean François, Georges Biassou, and Jeannot. |
| September 24 |
The Concordat de Damiens was singing, granting political rights to the affranchis |
| November |
The First Civil Commission, comprising Roume, Mirbeck, and Saint-Léger, arrived in Cap-Français to restore order. |
| 1792 |
April 4 |
France's Legislative Assembly voted to give full citizenship and equal rights to all free people of color. |
| September 18 |
The Second Civil Commission, comprising Léger-Félicité Sonthonax, Polvérel, and Ailhaud, arrived in Cap-Français to execute the law of April 4. |
| 1793 |
April 12 |
A force led by the Second Civil Commission and affranchis defeated white colonists in a fight to enforce the law of April 4. |
| Toussaint Louverture offered his services as a military commander to the Spanish. |
| June 20 |
French colonial forces, under the authority of the Second Civil Commission, put down a revolt led by the white planter Galbaud. |
| Henri Christophe was promoted to the captaincy of the French colonial forces. |
| British troops landed in Saint-Domingue. |
| June |
Toussaint, fighting for Spain, captured the city of Dondon. |
| August 13 |
Toussaint defeated the French general Desfourneaux at Ennery. |
| August 29 |
Sonthonax, without approval from the French government, declared the abolition of slavery in northern Saint-Domingue. |
| December 6 |
Toussaint captured Gonaïves for Spain. |
| 1794 |
February 4 |
The French National Convention declared the abolition of slavery in all French colonies. |
| May |
Toussaint left the Spanish and joined the French forces. |
| June 1 |
The British captured Port-au-Prince from Colonel Montbrun of France. |
| October 21 |
Toussaint captured the cities of Saint-Michel and Saint-Raphaël for the French. |
| 1795 |
October 13 |
Toussaint captured the city of Dondon a second time, this time for France. |
| October 14 |
The Treaty of Bâle was ratified, ending Spain's involvement in the conflict and surrendering the eastern part of Hispaniola to France. |
| 1796 |
March 30 |
Toussaint rescued French commander Laveaux from mulatto rebel Villatte; Laveaux appointed Toussaint the Lieutenant-Governor of Saint-Domingue. |
| May 11 |
The Third Civil Commission, comprising Sonthonax, Roume, Giraud, Leblanc, and Julien Raymond, arrived in Saint-Domingue to establish diplomatic relations between France and the colony. |
| 1797 |
May 1 |
Sonthonax appointed Toussaint the commander-in-chief of the French colonial forces |
| 1798 |
April 20 |
General Hédouville arrived in Cap-Français on the orders of the French government in order to oppose the ambition of Toussaint Louverture |
| August 31 |
British general Maitland agreed to evacuate Môle Saint-Nicolas and surrender his troops to Toussaint. |
| 1799 |
January 12 |
The generals of the colony - Toussaint, André Rigaud, Bauvais, and Laplume - met in Port-au-Prince and named Toussaint the lead commander. Rigaud surrendered control of the southern cities of Léogâne, Grand-Goâve, Petit-Goâve, and Miragoâne. |
| Year |
Date |
Event |
| 1801 |
January 27 |
Toussaint invaded the eastern part of Hispaniola and captured Santo Domingo, declaring freedom for all slaves and appointing a ten-member Central Assembly to issue a constitution. |
| July 8 |
The Constitution of 1801 was promulgated, under which Toussaint was to be Governor General for life. |
| 1802 |
January 29 |
A French expeditionary force, sent by Napoleon Bonaparte and led by his brother-in-law Charles Leclerc, arrived in Samana Bay. |
| February 1 |
French First RepublicFrench vessels arrived at Cap-Français. |
| February 4 |
Henri Christophe burned Cap-Français to resist the French troops. |
| February 23 |
Battle of Ravine-à-Couleuvres: French forces defeated Toussaint. |
| March |
Toussaint was defeated by French forces. |
| March 4 |
Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot: The battle began. |
| March 24 |
Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot: The battle ended with a French victory over Jean-Jacques Dessalines. |
| May 6 |
Toussaint arrived in Cap-Français to negotiate his surrender to the French. |
| June 7 |
Toussaint was arrested by General Leclerc and shipped to France, where he was imprisoned. |
| October 13 |
Dessalines, now Commander-in-Chief of the revolutionary forces, met with Alexandre Pétion in Haut-du-Cap to plan further military action. |
| November 1 |
Commander of the French forces General Leclerc died of yellow fever. He was succeeded by Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de Rochambeau. |
| 1803 |
April 7 |
Toussaint died in the French prison of Fort de Joux. |
| May 18 |
The flag of Haiti was created during a meeting between Dessalines and Pétion in l'Arcahaie and sewn by Catherine Flon. |
| November 18 |
Battle of Vertières: During the last major battle of the revolution, Haitian forces under Dessalines and Pétion defeated the French. |
| November 19 |
French general Rochambeau signs a document of surrender and agrees to evacuate French troops from Saint-Domingue; Rochambeau is later given as a prisoner to the British |
| November 29 |
Dessalines' army arrives in Cap-Français; Christophe and Clerveaux issue a preliminary declaration of independence |
| December 4 |
French forces surrender Môle Saint-Nicolas to Dessalines' army, officially ending French presence on the island |
| 1804 |
January 1 |
Dessalines, in Gonaïves, declares Haiti an independent nation and becomes Governor-General |
| September 22 |
Dessalines proclaims himself Emperor of Haiti |
| October 6 |
Dessalines becomes Emperor Jacques I in a coronation ceremony at Cap-Français |
| 1805 |
May 20 |
Dessalines formulates the first constitution of Haiti as an independent country, the Imperial Constitution of 1805 |
| 1806 |
October 17 |
Dessalines is assassinated at Pont-Rouge by disaffected leaders of his administration |
| December 27 |
During a meeting at a cathedral in Port-au-Prince, the Constituent Assembly creates a new constitution and appoints Henri Christophe to a four-year term as President of the Republic of Haiti |
| 1807 |
January 1 |
The Battle of Sibert ends with the division of Haiti into the southern Republic of Haiti under Alexandre Pétion and the northern State of Haiti under Christophe |
| February 17 |
Henri Christophe names himself President of the State of Haiti; a state council (7 generals and 2 civilians) appointed by Christophe meets in Cap-Haïtien and votes the Constitutional Act of Haiti |
| March 9 |
Pétion is elected President of the Republic of Haiti by the Constituent Assembly under the Constitution of 1806 |
| 1809 |
|
Louis XVIII of France sends a delegation to negotiate France's recognition of Haitian independence; Pétion meets with a French delegate, Dauxion-Lavaysse, and agrees to an indemnity payable to dispossessed French planters |
| 1811 |
March 9 |
Pétion is elected to a second four-year term as President of the Republic of Haiti |
| March 26 |
Christophe proclaims himself King Henri I of the northern Haitian state, now known as the Kingdom of Haiti |
| May 28 |
The Kingdom of Haiti promulgates the Royal Constitution of Henri I |
| June 2 |
Christophe is coronated as King Henri I in Cap-Haïtien |
| 1812 |
February 24 |
The Kingdom of Haiti establishes a civil code, the Henri Code |
| 1814 |
November |
Christophe refuses to negotiate with French delegate Franco de Medina concerning France's recognition of Haitian independence |
| 1816 |
June 2 |
Pétion promulgates the Republican Constitution |
| October 8 |
Louis XVIII of France sends another delegation to negotiate France's recognition of Haitian independence; Pétion cuts off negotiation, Christophe declines to meet the delegates |
| 1818 |
March 29 |
Pétion, President of the Republic of Haiti, dies of fever |
| March 30 |
Jean-Pierre Boyer, Chief of the Presidential Guard, is appointed President-for-Life of the Republic of Haiti |
| 1820 |
October 8 |
Christophe, King of the northern Haitian state, commits suicide |
| October 26 |
Boyer promulgates the Republican Constitution in Christophe's northern state; northern and southern Haiti are unified |
| 1822 |
February 9 |
Boyer arrives in Santo Domingo and declares control over the entire island of Hispaniola |
| 1825 |
April 17 |
King Charles X of France signs an ordinance which conditionally recognizes the independence of Haiti and imposes a 150 million franc indemnity on the Haitian government |
| July 3 |
A squadron of French ships arrives in Haiti to deliver the news of Charles X's ordinance of April 17 to President Boyer |
| 1831 |
September 22 |
The city of Pétionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince named for Alexandre Pétion, is founded by Boyer |
| 1838 |
|
Haiti's remaining debt to France, 120 million francs, is reduced to 60 million francs |
| 1842 |
May 7 |
An earthquake stikes northern Haiti, destoying the city of Cap-Haïtien (1842 Cap-Haïtien earthquake) |
| 1843 |
March 13 |
President Boyer is overthrown and flees to Paris in exile |
| September 18 |
The Constituent Assembly begins formulating the Constitution of 1843; it will take more than three months to finish |
| December 31 |
The Constitution of 1843 is released and Charles Riviere-Hérard is appointed President of Haiti |
| 1844 |
February 28 |
The Dominican Republic declares its independence from Haiti |
| April 4 |
The Piquets, peasants of southern Haiti led by Jean-Jacques Acaau, revolt against the government |
| May 3 |
The Piquets force Riviere-Hérard into exile; Philippe Guerrier is appointed President of Haiti |
| 1845 |
April 15 |
President Guerrier dies in office; the State Council appoints Jean-Louis Pierrot President of Haiti |
| 1846 |
March 1 |
President Pierrot is overthrown; Jean-Baptiste Riché becomes President of Haiti |
| 1847 |
|
Haitian historian Thomas Madiou publishes the first volume of his seminal work Histoire d'Haïti ("History of Haiti") |
| February 27 |
President Riché dies in office |
| March 1 |
Faustin Élie Soulouque is elected President of Haiti |
| 1852 |
April 18 |
President Faustin Soulouque is crowned Emperor Faustin I of Haiti |
| 1858 |
December |
Forces led by Fabre Geffrard defeat Emperor Faustin's Imperial Army |
| 1859 |
January 13 |
Fabre Geffrard is elected President of Haiti |
| 1860 |
March 28 |
Haiti and the Vatican sign an agreement which divides Haiti into five dioceses |
| 1862 |
|
The United States recognizes Haiti |
| December 15 |
Rhum Barbancourt is first produced |
| 1865 |
|
Céligny Ardouin's eleven-volume work on the history of Haiti, Essais sur l'Histoire d'Haïti, is published |
| 1867 |
|
President Geffrard is forced to flee the country |
|
Sylvain Salnave is elected President of Haiti |
|
The Constitution of 1867 is voted |
| 1869 |
|
The National Assembly elects Nissage Saget to a four-year term as President of Haiti after the overthrow of Salnave |
| 1870 |
|
Haitian writer Demesvar Delorme publishes the essay "Les Théoriciens au Pouvoir", which maintains that political power should be in the hands of the intellectual elite |
| 1874 |
|
Saget relinquishes the Presidency; the Constituent Assembly elects Michel Domingue as President |
|
President Domingue promulgates the Constitution of 1874 |
| 1875 |
|
President Domingue signs a treaty of peace and friendship with the Dominican Republic |
| 1876 |
|
President Domingue is overthrown; the Constituent Assembly elects Pierre Théoma Boisrond-Canal to a four-year term as President |
| 1879 |
|
The Constituent Assembly elects Lysius Salomon as President; President Salomon would institute many reforms and pay off Haiti's remaining debt to France for independence |
| 1880 |
|
The National Bank of Haiti (or Haitian Central Bank) is founded by President Salomon |
| 1882 |
|
Port-au-Prince and Haiti are dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help during a mass in Bel Air |
| 1883 |
|
Haitian poet Oswald Durand composes his most famous work, Choucoune |
| 1884 |
|
Haitian writer Louis-Joseph Janvier publishes the article "L'Egalité des Races", which proclaims the equality of the races |
| 1885 |
|
Haitian writer Anténor Firmin publishes the book De l'Égalité des Races Humaines, which proclaims the equality of the races |
| 1888 |
|
President Salomon is overthrown; the Constituent Assembly installs a provisional government |
|
The Constituent Assembly elects François Denys Légitime to the presidency |
| 1889 |
|
President Légitime is overthrown; the Constituent Assembly installs a provisional government |
|
The Constituent Assembly elects Florvil Hyppolite to a seven-year term as president |
| 1893 |
|
Haitian writer Hannibal Price publishes De la Réhabilitation de la Race Noire par la République d'Haïti ("On the Rehabilitation of the Black Race by the Republic of Haiti") in response to Spenser St. John's Hayti or the Black Republic |
| 1896 |
|
President Hyppolite dies of a heart attack; Tirésias Simon Sam is elected to a seven-year term as president |
| Year |
Date |
Event |
| 1902 |
|
President Simon Sam resigns; Pierre Nord Alexis becomes president |
| 1904 |
January 1 |
Haiti celebrates 100 years of independence |
| 1908 |
|
Pierre Nord Alexis withdraws from the presidency; the Constituent Assembly appoints François C. Antoine Simon president |
| 1911 |
|
President Antoine Simon cedes the presidency to Cincinnatus Leconte |
| 1912 |
January 30 |
The Haitian Federation of Soccer is created |
| August 5 |
The Haitian American Sugar Company is founded |
| August 8 |
President Leconte and 300 soldiers are killed in an explosion at the National Palace; the Constituent Assembly appoints Tancrède Auguste president |
| 1913 |
|
President Auguste dies during a visit to northern Haiti |
|
Senator Michel Oreste is elected president by the Constituent Assembly |
| 1914 |
|
President Oreste is overthrown and succeeded by Oreste Zamor |
|
President Zamor is overthrown and succeeded by Joseph Davilmar Théodore |
| 1915 |
|
President Théodore resigns and is succeeded by Vilbrun Guillaume Sam |
| July 28 |
Three thousand United States Marines, led by Admiral William B. Caperton, enter Port-au-Prince; beginning of the 19 year U.S. occupation of Haiti |
| August 12 |
Senator Philippe Sudré Dartiguenave is elected by the Constituent Assembly to a seven-year term as president |
| 1919 |
April 12 |
The Haitian government undertakes a monetary reform with the National Bank of Haiti |
| October 31 |
Charlemagne Péralte, leader of the resistance against U.S. occupation, is assassinated |
| 1920 |
|
Haitian writer Leon Laleau publishes his first compilation of poems, A Voix Basse |
| 1921 |
January 24 |
President Dartiguenave addresses United States President Warren G. Harding concerning the needs of the Haitian people |
| April 12 |
United States President Harding responds to President Dartiguenave |
| 1922 |
April 10 |
Louis Bornó is elected to a four-year term as president by the State Council |
| May 15 |
President Dartiguenave's term ends; Louis Bornó is sworn into office |
| December 28 |
The Central School of Agriculture (Ecole Centrale d'Agriculture) is founded in Damien |
| 1926 |
|
President Bornó is re-elected by the State Council and makes a diplomatic trip to the United States |
|
Haitian writer Leon Laleau publishes his second compilation of poems, La Flèche au Cœur |
| 1928 |
|
Haitian writer Jean Price-Mars publishes his acclaimed novel Ainsi Parla l'Oncle ("So spoke the Uncle") |
|
Leon Laleau publishes two more compilations of poems, Le Rayon des Jupes and Abréviations |
| 1929 |
January 21 |
Haiti and the Dominican Republic sign an agreement settling the border between the two countries |
| 1930 |
February 28 |
The Forbes Commission, sent by U.S. president Herbert Hoover to investigate Haiti's political situation, arrives in the country |
| April 21 |
Louis Eugène Roy is designated temporary president by state decree |
| November 18 |
Senator Sténio Vincent is elected to a six-year term as president |
| December 10 |
Fietta, the first Apostolic Nuncio (diplomatic representative of the Roman Catholic Church) to Haiti, arrives in Port-au-Prince |
| 1931 |
|
Jacques Roumain publishes his acclaimed novel Gouverneurs de la Rosée ("Masters of the Dew") |
| August 5 |
The U.S. agrees to hand over control of the Offices of Public Works, Health, Agriculture and Education to the Haitian government |
| December 15 |
The ceremony commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of Port-au-Prince to the Virgin Mary, led by Archbishop Joseph Legouaze, began. |
| December 17 |
The anniversary ceremony ended. |
| 1933 |
August 7 |
The governments of Haiti and the United States sign an agreement on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country and the end of the U.S. occupation |
| October 18 |
President Vincent of Haiti and President Rafael Leónidas Trujillo of the Dominican Republic meet for diplomatic talks in Ouanaminthe in northeastern Haiti, near the Dominican border |
| 1934 |
July 5 |
President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt visits Cap-Haïtien |
| August 14 |
Last American forces withdraw from Haiti, ending the U.S. occupation |
| August 21 |
The flag of Haiti is raised at Casernes Dessalines, where it was lowered nineteen years earlier at the start of the U.S. occupation |
| 1935 |
May 16 |
A new constitution is released, reinforcing the authority of the executive branch of government and renewing President Sténio Vincent's mandate for five more years |
| 1937 |
|
Between 17,000 to 35,000 Haitians living in the Dominican Republic are massacred by the Dominican armed forces on the orders of President Rafael Trujillo. U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull later declared "President Trujillo is one of the greatest men in Central America and in most of South America." |
| 1938 |
May 18 |
The 135th anniversary of the flag of Haiti is celebrated with athletic festivities at the Champs-de-Mars in Port-au-Prince |
| 1940 |
|
Haiti's national library, the Bibliothèque Nationale d'Haïti is organized |
| 1941 |
April 14 |
Élie Lescot is elected to a five-year term as president |
| May 15 |
President Vincent's term ends; Élie Lescot takes office |
| 1944 |
May 7 |
The Cathedral of Cap-Haïtien is consecrated after 100 years of restoration work |
| May 14 |
The Centre d'Art is founded; it exhibits important Haitian art works |
| 1946 |
|
A military coup forces President Lescot to resign; the newly-created Executive Military Committee appoints Dumarsais Estimé president |
| 1948 |
February 16 |
The government-owned tobacco company Régie du Tabac et des Allumettes is founded |
| 1949 |
December 8 |
The bicentennial of Port-au-Prince's founding is celebrated; a World's Fair, the Exposition internationale du bicentenaire de Port-au-Prince, is held |
| 1950 |
May 10 |
Dumarsais Estimé reliinquishes the presidency and is replaced by a provisional government |
| October 8 |
Presidential and legislative elections are held; Colonel Paul Magloire becomes the first president of Haiti to be elected directly by the people, the Delegates, and the Senators |
| December 6 |
Paul Magloire is sworn in as president |
| 1951 |
|
President Magloire of Haiti and President Trujillo of the Dominican Republic meet for diplomatic talks |
|
The Haitian Institute of Statistics (Institut Haïtien de Statistique) and the Haitian Institute of Farming and Industrial Credit (Institut Haïtien de Crédit Agricole et Industriel) are established by the government |
| 1953 |
May 31 |
Father Rémy Augustin, the first native Haitian bishop, is consecrated at the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince |
| 1954 |
January 1 |
A celebration commemorating the 150th anniversary of Haiti's independence from France, during which monuments to the "heroes of independence" are inaugurated in Port-au-Prince, began. |
| January 4 |
The celebration ended. |
| 1955 |
January 26 |
President Magloire and his wife began a trip to the United States, Canada, and Jamaica. |
| February 17 |
Magloire's trip ended. |
| March 3 |
Vice-President of the United States Richard Nixon and his wife began a visit to Haiti. |
| March 5 |
Nixon's trip ended. |
| 1956 |
|
President Magloire relinquishes the presidency; President of the Supreme Court Joseph Nemours Pierre-Louis becomes provisional president of Haiti |
| 1957 |
|
Franck Sylvain is elected President of Haiti, but is succeeded by a thirteen-member Executive Council of Government |
|
Daniel Fignolé is elected President of Haiti, but is replaced by a Military Council of Government |
| October 22 |
Dr. François "Papa Doc" Duvalier is elected President of Haiti |
| 1958 |
|
Duvalier began to attack his opponents violently, driving many of them into exile. |
| 1964 |
|
Duvalier's reign of terror ended. |
|
The National Assembly votes to accept the Duvalieriste Constitution, establishing Duvalier as President for Life of Haiti |
| 1968 |
October 28 |
François Wolf Ligondé, the first Haitian archbishop, is consecrated at the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince |
| 1970 |
|
Thousands of Haitians began to flee poverty and repression in Haiti by boat, often arriving in south Florida. |
| 1971 |
February |
The National Assembly approves an amendment to the constitution, allowing President For Life Duvalier to name his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, as his successor |
| April 21 |
President for Life François Duvalier dies in Port-au-Prince |
| April 22 |
Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier succeeds his father as President for Life |
| 1974 |
|
The Haiti national football team participates in the FIFA World Cup for the first time |
| 1977 |
August 15 |
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations commission arrives in Haiti; the commission meets with the Haitian government to discuss civil rights in Haiti |
| 1980 |
May 27 |
President for Life Jean-Claude Duvalier marries Michèle Bennett |
| 1983 |
March |
Pope John Paul II arrives in Haiti, becoming the first Pope to visit the country |
| August 27 |
The constitution is amended, creating the post of State Minister and allowing the President to name his successor |
| 1985 |
June 6 |
President for Life Duvalier amends the constitution to allow the creation of the post of Prime Minister of Haiti |
| July |
A referendum is approved by 99.48% of voters, allowing political parties to participate in the government and recognizing the Presidency for Life of Jean-Claude Duvalier |
| July |
A constitutional amendment on the Presidency for Life is passed |
| November 28 |
Three schoolboys (Jean-Robert Cius, Daniel Israël, and Mackenson Michel) are killed during an anti-government demonstration in Gonaïves |
| 1986 |
January 31 |
Rumors spread through Port-au-Prince that President Duvalier has fled the country |
| February 3 |
President Duvalier and members of his cabinet visit commercial and residential areas of Port-au-Prince as a show of power |
| February 7 |
President Jean-Claude Duvalier flees Haiti for Talloires, France; the National Council of Government (Conseil National de Gouvernement, CNG) is established, led by General Henri Namphy; the Legislative Chamber and Duvalier's armed forces, Volontaire Sécurité Nationale, are dissolved |
| February 25 |
The original blue and red flag of Haiti is raised at the National Palace, replacing the black and red flag of the Duvalier regime |
| March |
Former President of Haiti Daniel Fignolé returns to Haiti; a second version of the CNG is formed, consisting of Henri Namphy, Williams Régala, and Jacques François |
| March 20 |
More than two thousand students and public transportation drivers of Carrefour demonstrate against the CNG |
| April 26 |
Eight people are killed in an attack by armed groups on Fort-Dimanche |
| October 19 |
Forty-one people are elected to a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution, the CNG appoints twenty more constituents for a total of sixty-one |
| 1987 |
March 10 |
The constituent assembly presents the new constitution, written in both French and Haitian Creole, to President of the CNG Henri Namphy |
| March 29 |
The new constitution is ratified by referendum; the results of 215 voting places show an approximately 99.81% approval rate |
| May 13 |
The CNG publishes a decree electing the members of the Provisional Electoral Council (Conseil Electoral Provisoire, CEP) |
| May 22 |
The CEP proclaims itself independent from the CNG |
| June 5 |
The CEP delivers the text of the electoral law to the Minister of Justice |
| July |
Large landowners (grandons) massacre hundreds of peasants demanding land in Jean-Rabel |
| July 17 |
During a ceremony at the Military Academy, the Haitian Armed Forces swear allegiance to the new 1987 constitution |
| November 29 |
Elections are held, disturbances occur at Ruelle Vaillant in Port-au-Prince; the elections are suspended and General Namphy dissolves the CEP |
| December 10 |
General Namphy sets January 17, 1988 as the new election date; the CNG elects a new Provisional Electoral Council (Conseil Electoral Provisoire, CEP) |
| 1988 |
January |
Christian Democrat Leslie Manigat is elected in military-run elections boycotted by the Haitian people and most candidates. In June he is overthrown in military coup by Gen. Namphy. In September Namphy is overthrown by Gen. Prosper Avril. |
| 1990 |
January |
President/General Prosper Avril declares a state of siege in January. |
| March |
Rising protests convince Avril to resign. A Provisional Government led by Supreme Court Justice Ertha Pascal-Trouillot is formed. |
| December 16 |
Democratic elections take place. Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide, well known throughout the country for his support of the poor, is elected President with 67.5% of the counted popular vote. The "U.S. favorite" Marc Bazin finishes a distant second with 14.2% . |
| 1991 |
January |
A coup by former Tonton Macoutes head Roger Lafontant is foiled after tens of thousands pour into the streets of the capital, surrounding the National Palace. |
| February 7 |
Aristide is sworn in as president. |
| September 30 |
A military coup deposes Aristide, who goes into exile first in Venezuela, then in the United States. |
|
Thousands of Haitians begin to flee violence and repression in Haiti by boat. Although most are repatriated to Haiti by the U.S. government, many enter the United States as refugees. |
| 1994 |
September |
The de facto military government resigns at the request of the United States in September, which then sends in troops to occupy Haiti. This occupation is sanctioned by the United Nations. |
| October 15 |
The U.S. returns Aristide as president. |
| 1995 |
|
The U.S. nominally hands over military authority to the United Nations but maintains effective control of the occupation. Aristide dissolves the Haitian army. |
| December |
Former prime minister René Préval is elected president. |
| 1996 |
February 7 |
Aristide leaves office and is succeeded by René Préval. |
| 2000 |
May |
Legislative, municipal and local elections are held. The OAS disputes how the sovereign electoral council calculates the run-offs for eight Senate seats. |
| November |
Aristide is reelected for a second five-year term with 92% of the vote in elections boycotted by the opposition. The last UN peacekeeping forces withdraw from Haiti. |
