From the First Black Republic to the Death of Infamous Dictator “Baby Doc” Duvalier
The former dictator of Haiti, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, died on October 4, 2014, at the age of 63 from a heart attack in the capital, Port-au-Prince. He came to power at just 19 years old under the title of “President for Life,” inheriting the role from his father, the notorious François “Papa Doc” Duvalier.
He ruled from 1971 until 1986 when a popular uprising overthrew him. His regime was brutal—thousands of Haitians were killed or tortured in prisons, and hundreds of thousands fled the country.
Meanwhile, he lived a life of luxury in a nation of extreme poverty. For instance, his extravagant 1980 wedding cost millions of U.S. dollars—paid from the state treasury. Baby Doc grew his wealth through various criminal activities, including drug trafficking and selling body parts of dead Haitians. Under his rule, Haiti became the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Despite being one of Latin America’s most brutal and arrogant dictators, relations with the U.S. were relatively positive. They cooled slightly under President Jimmy Carter but became very friendly during Ronald Reagan’s presidency due to Duvalier’s strong anti-communist stance.
In 1984, just months before the uprising that toppled Baby Doc, U.S. Ambassador Ernest Preeg praised the “stability” of Haiti under his regime.
Everything you would expect from a violent Latin American dictatorship existed during Baby Doc’s rule. Paramilitary groups known as the Tontons Macoutes (“bogeymen”) roamed the country, eliminating dissenters, journalists, and anyone considered a threat. Reports estimate that tens of thousands were killed, many in the prison complex known as the “Triangle of Death.” Baby Doc ruled mercilessly until his overthrow in the mid-1980s, with U.S. support persisting until the very end.
Haiti – The Proud Nation Where African Slaves Overthrew Their Masters
Haiti is often remembered for the devastating earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010, claiming over 230,000 lives.
Haiti occupies the western part of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic, and has a population of about 9.7 million. The nation’s pride lies in being the first Black country to successfully revolt against slavery. In 1791, enslaved people rose up against the French, and after years of brutal conflict, they declared victory in 1804.
At the time, France was ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, and Haiti became his Waterloo in the Western Hemisphere. He lost over 50,000 elite troops and 18 generals in the conflict.
In 1804, Haiti declared itself a republic—the first led by people of African descent. But despite defeating Napoleon, better days were slow to come. Revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared himself emperor for life but ruled despotically. He was assassinated in 1806 by rebels, and the country split in two: the north was ruled by King Henri I (Henri Christophe), and the south by President Alexandre Pétion.
Despite their rivalry, both leaders contributed to Haiti’s development. Henri promoted a feudal-like system but also expanded education. Pétion supported revolutionary movements abroad, aiding Simón Bolívar, who would later liberate much of northern South America.
Partial unification came under President Jean-Pierre Boyer in 1821, but hard times followed. French King Charles X sent troops to retake the island. Though unsuccessful, Boyer was pressured into signing a humiliating agreement to pay France 150 million francs in reparations for the “loss” of slave economy profits.
French abolitionist Victor Schoelcher wrote:
“From victorious slaves, they now demanded money for what they had already paid in blood.”
Haitian elites ousted Boyer in 1843. This ushered in decades of coups and infighting, with foreign economic interests—including those from the U.S., Germany, France, and Britain—manipulating local factions and looting Haiti’s central bank.
By 1914, under the pretext of protecting corporate interests, British, German, and American troops entered Haiti. President Woodrow Wilson ordered the U.S. occupation in 1915, lasting until 1934. At first, German businessmen dominated, controlling 80% of international trade.
The U.S. occupation devastated Haiti: education was reshaped to train Haitians only for manual labor, and the American corporation “United Fruit Company” exploited the country’s resources. The U.S. also drew the border with the Dominican Republic, sparking future conflicts.
In the DR, anti-Haitian laws known as Antihaitianismo were enacted, and border patrols killed over 20,000 Haitians. Amid this, François “Papa Doc” Duvalier rose to power, initially popular among Black Haitians but soon becoming a cruel dictator. After his death in 1971, his son Baby Doc continued the regime, deepening poverty and illiteracy.
A rural uprising began in 1985. Riots, food warehouse attacks, and protests spread. Duvalier tried to hold power by cutting food prices and using military force, but by January 1986, even the U.S. abandoned him. On February 7, 1986, Baby Doc fled to France on a U.S. Air Force jet, living luxuriously in exile.
He returned in 2011, supposedly to help post-earthquake recovery, but likely sought to reclaim frozen assets. He was arrested and placed under house arrest shortly after arrival, facing corruption charges, but continued living in comfort until his 2014 death.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide: Hope for Democracy
In the 1980s, one figure offered hope: Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who would become Haiti’s first democratically elected president.
Born in 1953 in extreme poverty, Aristide joined a Catholic order, studied in Haiti and abroad, and returned as a priest. Disturbed by Haiti’s suffering, he openly criticized the Duvaliers—an act that often meant death. He even condemned the Vatican for giving Duvaliers the power to appoint bishops. For this, he was expelled and exiled to Montreal.
In 1985, he returned and gave a now-legendary speech in Port-au-Prince:
“The path of those Haitians who reject the regime is the path of justice and love.”
He survived multiple assassination attempts, including a massacre in 1988 when militants attacked a church during one of his sermons, killing at least 15 and injuring 77. Aristide survived.
He was eventually forced into exile again, but mass protests blocked his removal. Elections in 1987 failed due to military interference, but in 1990, Aristide won with a landslide.
Only 8 months later, he was overthrown in a bloody coup, likely backed by Baby Doc’s loyalists. His first law had targeted corruption, requiring financial audits before anyone could leave the country.
Haiti spiraled into chaos. Although the CIA had backed his opponents, the U.S. under Bill Clinton realized Haiti was becoming too unstable even for American businesses. The U.S. offered to reinstate Aristide if he accepted neoliberal reforms—including lifting trade barriers and importing food from the U.S., despite Haiti’s ability to feed itself.
Aristide returned in 1994 under these terms, with his mandate ending in 1996. Barred from immediate re-election, his ally René Préval succeeded him. In 2000, Aristide returned and won again—this time with 92% of the vote.
He demanded France pay $21 billion in reparations. In 2004, amid violent uprisings and alleged U.S. support for a coup, Aristide was kidnapped by U.S. forces and exiled to the Central African Republic, later moving to South Africa.
Just after the 2010 earthquake, Aristide expressed his desire to return. Despite pressure from President Obama, South Africa allowed it, and Aristide returned on March 18, 2011, welcomed by thousands. In his speech, he said:
“In 1804, the Haitian revolution ended slavery. Let today mark the end of exile and coups.”
But he was blocked from returning to power. His party Fanmi Lavalas was barred from elections. In 2011, Michel Martelly, a U.S.-backed businessman and musician, won the presidency.
Legacy and Final Notes
By 2014, Baby Doc was widely condemned as a dictator—but few acknowledged that the U.S. supported his regime, orchestrated his escape, and helped him avoid justice. Even fewer mentioned the U.S. role in undermining democracy in Haiti by exiling Aristide—twice—and attempting to prevent his return.
Haiti’s story is one of resilience and betrayal. The only nation born from a successful slave revolt has been repeatedly punished for its independence, exploited both from within and without.
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