Unit V: Duvalier Rule in Haiti (5/2)

Corresponding text found on p267-270 in Brief History of the Caribbean.

Stenio Vincent elected President of Haiti by National Assembly in 1930; US troops leave in '34
Vincent reelected in 1935 in fraudulent referendum; dictatorial rule; close ties to US
Oct 1937 -DR President Trujillo has army execute near 50,000 Haitian laborers; civil unrest in Haiti
1941 - Vincent forced to step aside; Assemble elects Elie Lescot new President

Lescot rule sees increased coffee sales due to WWII; blatant corruption and nepotism; repression of Vodun religion; alienates many
Jan 1946 - military coup; Lescot removed; National Assembly dissolved
May 1946 - new national elections; subsequent National Assembly elects Dumarsais Estime president
Estime tries to rig election in 1950; organizes mob to intimidate Senate; military coup against Estime
1950-1956 - President Magloire; same problems of corruption and ineffective government

Sept 1957 - Francois Duvalier elected President
Duvalier was writer and former member of National Assembly; reputation for honesty
Base of support was military, vodun priests, peasantry, young middle-class

Francois Duvalier - Papa Doc

Soon after election, removes chief of staff and takes direct control of army; creates new military bodies
Tonton Makoutes created as secret police for purpose of terrorizing population and maintaining order
1964 - Duvalier declares himself "President for Life"
Tactics of 'Papa Doc' to maintain control and power were numerous
  - chose members of National Assembly
  - engaged in corrupt practices with important businesses
  - gave good-pay govt jobs to middle class intellectuals
  - closed unions
  - closed independent press organizations
  - expelled many Catholic priests and closed seminaries
  - offer government contracts and jobs to ensure support
  - Tontons

Duvalier with his military support

State ownership of industry greatly expands
Due to corrupt power relationships, elite benefit from Duvalier rule while peasantry gets poorer; many flee

April 1971 - Papa Doc dies; 19-yr old son had been named succeeding "President for Life"

Jean-Claude Duvalier - Baby Doc

Early years of rule of Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc) see mild reforms; new assembly industry jobs

Short documentary on Haiti from 1975 (Part 1 of 2)

Short documentary (Part 2 of 2)

1980 - Baby Doc marries light-skinned daughter of elite business class
Seen as rejection of 'Black Power' Movement which had an association with Papa Doc

What is 'Black Power'? How did it transform the Caribbean?
Walter Rodney, Guyana, and Jamaica
Trinidad's Black Power Revolution of 1970

Starts to name his own appointees; new wave of government intimidation

Duvalier and wife

1985 - severe food shortage; Madame Duvalier lavish shopping spree in Paris; peasant unrest grows
Demonstrations grow in size and intensity; young army officers disenchanted; protests of more rural population gain support of Catholic priests - Haitian born, middle-class background
Duvalier response inconsistent; army shoots at protesters; cuts prices on goods; dissolves Tontons partly
Jan 30, 1986 - news reports govt collapse (false report); protests move to Port-au-Prince
Feb 7, 1986 - Baby Doc and family flee for exile in France; made off with millions