Francois “Papa Doc”

DuvalierBy: Sadia Karani, Salman Raja, Thomas Baugh, Luis Santiago Gonzalez, Alek McCracken

FALL OUT FROM HAITIAN REVOLUTION

• Haiti was France's most profitable colony due to the enslaved labor force.• In 1791 the slaves revolted and defeated Napoleon's army by 1804.• This was groundbreaking because this made Haiti the world's first black

republic.• The U.S. refused to formally recognize them as they feared this would

encourage revolts amongst their own slaves• French slave owners demanded reparations for their "loss of property", so

as a result, in 1825, French King Charles X demanded Haiti to pay up an independence debt

• This independence debt required the payment of 150 million gold francs in 5 years (this was more than 10x Haiti's annual revenues) and a 50% tariff cut for France

• Haiti was backed up in a corner; they would not be recognized as officially independent by other countries if they could not pay this debt

• Also their revenues mainly came from agricultural exports, and international trade cannot occur if Haiti is not considered its own separate nation

• Haiti is forced to agree to this independence debt and it must borrow money from France, Germany, and the US to pay it off

• Of course, these loans come with their own exorbitant amounts of interest rates and fees

• France agrees to reduce the amount to 60 million gold francs in an expanded amount of time that is now 30 years)

• By the late 1800s, 80% of Haiti's national revenues were going to France; this was also about the time that most other countries were officially recognizing it (decades after gaining independence)

• In 1947, Haiti was finally able to pay off their debt with one final loan from the US

• The final sum they paid off would be worth 20 billion dollars today

US OCCUPATION OF HAITI

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● US government’s interests in Haiti existed decades prior to occupation● Seen as a potential naval base, the US feared any instability in Haiti, that

could result in foreign rule; particularly German control of Haiti● Between 1911 and 1915, seven presidents were assassinated or overthrown

in Haiti● In 1915, Haitian President, Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was assassinated● President Wilson sent US Marines to Haiti to “establish peace and order”

○ In reality, it was to protect US assets and to prevent a possible German invasion

Haiti Under US Control● Invasion ended with the Haitian-American Treaty of 1915

○ US gained complete control of Haitian finances, and forced election of new pro-American President, Philippe Sudre Dartiguenave

○ A constitution prepared in the US was pushed through Haitian congress■ It allowed foreign land ownership■ When legislature rejected the constitution, US forced President

Philippe to dissolve the legislature

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Haitian Reaction● Most Haitians did not approve of the occupation● Policies like racial segregation, press censorship, and forced labor were

extremely unpopular● Early period of unrest led to 1918 rebellion

○ 40,000 insurgents and it cost about 2,000 Haitian lives● In 1929, a series of strikes and uprisings led US to begin withdrawal from

Haiti● In 1934, the US, in concert with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Good

Neighbor Policy, officially withdrew from HaitiLegacy● Occupation greatly improved Haiti’s infrastructure● Americans trained Garde D’ Haiti, a national police force that became an

important political force once Americans left ○ Series of bloody coups by Garde D’Haiti during 1950s

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PAPA DOC’S RISE TO POWER

Poppa Doc “8 MILE”

Poppa Doc “BUGS BUNNY”

Poppa Doc-k

“Poppa Doc” Francois Duvalier

Before He Was in Power

• President Dumarsais Esitme• 1946• 1949

• Paul Magloire-1950• Went into hiding• Political Amnesty-1956• Running for President

• Strong support countryside• Deals with other candidates• Gained support of Haitian

military• Louis Dejoie

After He Was in Power

• New Constitution-1957• Coup D’etat-1958• Catholic Hierarchy• Elections

• “President for LIFE”• United $tate$• Foreign Relations• Bulwark of Communism• Personality Cult

VOUDON AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF

Baron Samedi• popular Haitian deity in the Vdoun

religion.• Characterized as the ruler of the

afterlife• Commonly wears formal attire,

however has a chaotic attitude

Duvalier’s utilization of Voudon• Thoroughly studied the Voudon

culture• Used the culture as a means to

enhance his power as a tyrant• Mimics the likeness of Baron samedi

in order to make himself appear as a god

TONTON MACOUTES

The Milice Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale (MVSN) orTonton Macoutes

• Founded 1958• Luckner Cambronne-

The Vampire• 20,000 Macoutes• 100,000-600,000

killed• Straw hats, blue denim

shirts, and machete• Reign of terror until

Jean Claude Duvalier exiled in 1986

Lasting Impact

• Major part in corruption

• Public displays of violence

• 1961, 62 US Marine mission in Haiti

• Militia Violence• Remained as rebels

until 2000

Discussion1. How does an understanding of the scale of

violence in Haiti affect the perception of the family’s actions towards the men in black?

2. The grandfather say, “No steward would agree to stand up to those who have taken our land.” Is there a way to stand up to a force like the Tonton Macoutes, or is it best to be passive?

3. Using the background knowledge presented, what insights can be drawn from the grandfather’s pride in being a self-made man?

Works Cited● Danticat, Edwige. "The Long Legacy of Occupation in Haiti - The New Yorker." The New Yorker. The New

Yorker, 28 July 2015. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.● "Haiti's Debt." Global South. 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.● Macdonald, Isabel. "Haiti's Debt." Global South. 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.● Minster, Christopher. "Haiti: The US Occupation, 1915-1934." About.com Education. About.com, n.d. Web. 02

Nov. 2015.● "U.S. Invasion and Occupation of Haiti, 1915–34." History.state.gov. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 02

Nov. 2015.● "Why The US Owes Haiti Billions - The Briefest History by Bill Quigley." Center for Constitutional Rights. 17

Jan. 2010. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.● "Papa Doc Duvalier: The Voodoo President Who Killed Kennedy." All About History. Web. 3 Nov.

2015.● Daniels, Kyrah. "Bawon Samdi." Web. 3 Nov. 2015.● “Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture”. Ed. Carole Boyce Davies. Vol.

3. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2008. p821-822. Web. 3 Nov. 2015.● http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/assets/12048818/March-in-Haiti.jpg● Aponte, David. "The Tonton Macoutes: The Central Nervous System of Haiti’s Reign ● of Terror." Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Ed. David Aponte. Council on ● Hemispheric Affairs, 11 Mar. 2010. Web. 1 Nov. 2015. ● Roth, Catherine. "Tonton Macoutes." Black Past. Washington: n.p., n.d. N. pag. ● Print. ● https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVHiirHKE0PLSI3XlSKDCNCu9902clHIFEbZEZ8N

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