 on 5 December 1492, when the European navigator Christopher Columbus landed on a large

island in the region of the western Atlantic Ocean that later came to be known as the Caribbean
 western portion of the island of Hispaniola where Haiti is situated at was inhabited by
the Taíno and Arawakan people, who called their island Ayiti. 
 The island was promptly claimed for the Spanish Crown, where it was named La Isla
Española ("the Spanish Island"), later Latinized to Hispaniola.
 early 17th century, the French built a settlement on the west of Hispaniola and called it Saint-
Domingue. Prior to the Seven Years' War (1756–1763)
 On August 1791, slaves staged a revolt which led to the Haitian Revolution.
 André Rigaud, leader of the revolution forced the British to withdraw
 the Generals Dessalines, Christophe, and Pétion laid heavy battle against Leclerc (leader of the
French invasion).
 Dessalines declaring independence on 1 January 1804.
 Haiti was proclaimed an empire under Emperor Dessalines
 Haiti broke off into two regions, controlled by rival regimes, with Christophe ruling the semi-
feudal northern state and Pétion ruling the more tolerant southern republic. 
 Haiti was later occupied by the United States from 1915 to 1934. After the occupation,
President Vincent forced through a new constitution that allowed for sweeping powers for the
executive branch
 Estimé first civilian president ruled for five years until 1950.

(FLAG)
 The coat of arms of Haiti consists of six draped flags of the country, three on each side, which are
located in front of a palm tree and cannons. In front of the cannons are a drum, a bugle, long
guns, and ship anchors. Above the palm tree, there is a Phrygian cap placed as a symbol of
freedom. Just above the ribbon with the motto are two pieces of chain with a broken link
symbolizing the broken chain of slavery. On the ribbon is the national motto of Haiti "L'Union
Fait La Force" which means "Union Makes Strength".
 The color blue represented Haiti's African residents while the red represented those of
mixed European and African descent.

GOVERNMENT AND AUTHORITIES

 Haiti is built upon a semi-presidential republic.
 The central government of Haiti delegates powers to the various departments
 the President of Haiti is head of state and is elected directly by popular elections; the Prime
Minister, appointed by the president, is the head of the government and is selected from the
majority party in the National Assembly
 ten administrative departments, which include Nord-Ouest, Nord, Nord-Est , Artibonite, Centre,
Ouest, Grand'Anse, Nippes , Sud, and Sud-Est.
 departments split into 42 arrondissements, 145 communes and 571 communal sections, which
serve as, second and third level administrative divisions in the country.

TERRITORIAL MAP

 Haiti is a country in the Caribbean Sea that occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, it
is bordered by the Dominican Republic in east and it shares maritime borders with the Bahamas,
Colombia, Cuba, and Jamaica.
 With an area of 27,750 km², the country is slightly smaller than Albania, or slightly smaller than the
U.S. state of Maryland. It is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean, its highest point is
Pic la Selle (Chaine de la Selle) with 2,680 m (8,793 ft).
 Haiti has a population of 10 million people. Capital is Port-Au-Prince. Spoken languages are
Haitian Creole and French.
 Map is showing Haiti on the western part of the island Hispaniola east of Cuba, with international
borders, departmental boundaries, the national capital Port-Au-Prince, departmental capitals, cities
and towns, main roads, railroads and major airports.