The Republic of Haiti is the world’s first black led republic and the first Caribbean state to achieve independence.  However, today Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.  80% of the countries 8 million people live under the poverty line, and 54% live in abject poverty.  Haiti’s history is riddled with violent coups, environmental degradation, instability and dictatorship which has led to the countries current dire situation. 

The island nation of Haiti is located on the island of Hispaniola.  Haiti occupies the western one third of the island, while the Dominican Republic occupies the Eastern two thirds.  Hispaniola was inhabited by Taino Amerindians when it was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492.  Within 25 years they where virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers.  In the 17th Century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded the western third of the island to the French.  This became Haiti.  As a French colony, what is now Haiti became one of the wealthiest colonies in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of slaves.  In the late 18th century, Haiti's' nearly half a million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'Ouverture.  After a prolonged struggle Haiti became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804.  

Haiti is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; it is slightly smaller than the state of Maryland.  The climate is tropical, and the terrain is mountainous.  It lies in the middle of the Hurricane Belt, and is subject to severe storms from June to October.  Hurricane Dean caused widespread damage in the summer of 2007.  It is also subject to earthquakes, and droughts. 

The population of Haiti is 8.7 million, with 95% being black and the remaining 5% mixed race, and white.  The official language of Haiti is French, and Creole.  Roman Catholic is the dominant religion, although, half of the population practices voodoo.

The capital of Haiti is Port au Prince.  The island celebrates its independence day on January first.  The chief of state is Rene Preval, and the head of government is Prime Minster Jacques Edouard Alexis.  The National Assembly consists of the Senate with 30 seats and the Chamber of Deputies, which has 99 seats. 

The government relies on international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability.  Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling ¼ of the Gross Domestic Product, which is 14.5 billion dollars. 

 The official currency of Haiti is Gourdes.  The exchange rate is 40 Gourdes for every one U.S. dollar.  The country exports 443 million dollars in manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa, and mangoes.  It imports 1.7 billion in food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, and raw materials.  Their main export partners are the U.S. the Dominican Republic and Canada.  Their import partners are the U.S. the Netherlands Antilles, and Brazil.