Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 4 of 9). Response to some Marxist objections. (1) In 1804 there were embargoes against Haiti by France, England, USA. However these embargoes were quite porous since private merchants (English, French, American, Spanish) were still doing commerce with Haiti. In 1807 English abolished TransAtlantic slave trade and in 1808 England ended the Haiti embargo; by 1814 more than 80% of Haitian trade was with England. Besides in the 1800's England and Spain were at war with France so little military naval effort was focused on Haiti. Haiti had no military navy, no merchant marine so Haiti had no capability to pursue merchant trade, no capability to project military naval power on its own. Haiti was at the mercy of others for maritime trade. (2) Many nations, when newly established, were not given a "welcome basket" by the community of Nations. The birth of the USA was greeted with war with England. The birth of Israel was greeted with war with Arab nations. The USA recognized the USSR in 1933 and the USSR was established in 1917. And yet there was USA-USSR trade before 1933. The USA recognized the People's Republic of China in 1979 and the PRC was established in 1949. And yet there was USA-PRC trade before 1979. These trades occur despite ideological differences. These trades occur because the USSR and the PRC had goods/services to offer to the community of Nations. By 1804 Haiti utterly wrecked its economic infrastructure and had little to offer to trade with the community of Nations. (3) The American Occupation of 1915-1934 did not impoverish Haiti. On the contrary, the Americans built up Haiti's degraded infrastructure: 180 bridges were built; the Péligre Dam (source of up to 1/2 of the nation's electric power) was started; Port-au-Prince was the first city in Caribbean/Latin America to have an automatic dialing phone system; General Hospital of Port-au-Prince was built; 10 more hospitals built outside of Port-au-Prince; 1000 miles of roads were built; the first Agricultural College was established in Damiens; Jacmel was the first town in the Caribbean to be electrified; US Navy built some 150 rural clinics; lighthouses were built; harbors were dredged; etc.. But, but, but the corvées!!! Americans used FORCED LABOR to build the roads!!! Nope. The corvée laws were on the books by the Haitian government since 1804. Since many communities cannot pay taxes by money, they pay said taxes by maintaining the roads near their localities. The corvée laws were derived from Ancient Roman Law. The communities were not paying their taxes with the consequence being that the roads were badly degraded. The American were simply applying Haitian Law; the tax delinquent communities needed to pay up with labor. Nobody enjoys paying taxes in any shape or form. It is cruel and inhumane to make tax delinquents to pay taxes (the horror!!!). Yet, from 1915-1934, Haiti was still a low-export economy. There were a few American companies present such as United Fruit but their operations were small compared to their operations in Central America. 3 main reasons: (a) Legal restrictions on foreigners owning land in Haiti (b) most cultivated land was owned by small farmers (c) the small farmers did not work with American companies. In Central America most cultivated land was owned by a few oligarchs and said oligarchs worked with the American companies. Yet, from 1915-1934, Haiti's per capita exports compared to the rest of the Caribbean more than doubled from 8% (1915) to 18% (1934); said ratio is 60% (1820), 5% (2005). (4) Conflict of visions between the populace (ex-slaves) and the Haitian elite (White, Mixed, Black). The ex-slaves wanted nothing more than a piece of land and cultivate it for their basic needs. Essentially the ex-slaves wanted a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy. Nation building was not on the mind of the ex-slaves. Nation building was on the minds of the elite who knew fully well that Haiti cannot be totally self-sufficient and thus needed to rebuild the economy to produce goods/services to trade with other Nations. The elite wanted to rebuild the plantation system and the ex-slaves wanted none of that!!! Henri Christophe (Black) was able to impose the plantation system in the North but at the cost of raising anger of the peasant (ex-slave) class. The peasant anger became so great that Henri Christophe committed suicide in 1820. Ironically, Northern Haiti under Christophe (Black) became wealthier (relatively) than Southern Haiti under Pétion (Mulatto) who pushed for Land Redistribution, not Plantation system. (5) Marxists sweep under the rug the occupation of the Dominican Republic. Why? Because it does not fit the narrative of Haiti being a victimized innocent. Haiti occupied the Dominican Republic from 1821 to 1844. Haitian president Boyer confiscated all church property, all lands owned by Whites, and deported all foreign clergy. Oh, but that was the second invasion by Haiti; in 1805, the Haitian Army invaded the Dominican Republic, reached Santo Domingo, and made a fast retreat using the destroy and burn tactics much favored by J.J Dessalines. Why the retreat? There were reports that a French flotilla was coming towards Port-au-Prince. Even after 1844 the Haitians did not give up; for the next 12 years there were several minor military excursions into the Dominican Republic. Militarism, combined with Subsistence Economy, deepens Poverty. But, but, but Haiti did not invade the DR, Haiti occupied the DR by INVITATION!!! Yep. In 1915 the USA occupied Haiti by INVITATION. In 1938 Germany occupied Austria by INVITATION. In 2014 Russia occupied Crimea by INVITATION. Independence Day in the DR celebrates independence from Haiti, not from Spain. (6) Reparations to France: the Marxists' favorite bugaboo. Were the reparations the fundamental cause of Haiti's poverty? Answer: NO. Haiti was already entrenched in Poverty by 1826 when France demanded reparations. Mind you, the 1826 reparation demand was the THIRD request; the previous 2 were made to Christophe (refused), to Pétion (refused). The third time was the charm for France. Haiti's 1821 invasion of the Dominican Republic (DR) was a strategic error. Military adventurism and a moribund economy made for a very bad mix. France was not stupid. After 5 yrs of Haiti being stuck in the DR quagmire, France popped up (again!) and made the reparations demand. Haiti cannot fight both the French and the Dominicans. Haiti decided to pay reparations. France asked only for 1 year's worth of colonial output. In 1820, Haiti's output was only 1/20 of colonial output; that it took Haiti more than 100 years to pay the reparations is no surprise. From 1826-1844 Haiti plundered the DR of its wealth to pay as much as it can for the reparations. (7) Often politically driven programs do not bring Economic or Societal Progress. What feels good usually does no good. Embracing victimhood (politically popular as of 2024 AD) brings no kind of prosperity. Become a victim and win a prize!!! Victims of the World, Unite!!!
This is amazing. I hope we can bring this movie to CO. People need to see this!!!
Great Story💯
Why Haiti began and remains poor (pt 4 of 9).
Response to some Marxist objections.
(1) In 1804 there were embargoes against Haiti by France, England, USA. However these embargoes were quite porous since private merchants (English, French, American, Spanish) were still doing commerce with Haiti. In 1807 English abolished TransAtlantic slave trade and in 1808 England ended the Haiti embargo; by 1814 more than 80% of Haitian trade was with England. Besides in the 1800's England and Spain were at war with France so little military naval effort was focused on Haiti. Haiti had no military navy, no merchant marine so Haiti had no capability to pursue merchant trade, no capability to project military naval power on its own. Haiti was at the mercy of others for maritime trade.
(2) Many nations, when newly established, were not given a "welcome basket" by the community of Nations. The birth of the USA was greeted with war with England. The birth of Israel was greeted with war with Arab nations. The USA recognized the USSR in 1933 and the USSR was established in 1917. And yet there was USA-USSR trade before 1933. The USA recognized the People's Republic of China in 1979 and the PRC was established in 1949. And yet there was USA-PRC trade before 1979. These trades occur despite ideological differences. These trades occur because the USSR and the PRC had goods/services to offer to the community of Nations. By 1804 Haiti utterly wrecked its economic infrastructure and had little to offer to trade with the community of Nations.
(3) The American Occupation of 1915-1934 did not impoverish Haiti. On the contrary, the Americans built up Haiti's degraded infrastructure: 180 bridges were built; the Péligre Dam (source of up to 1/2 of the nation's electric power) was started; Port-au-Prince was the first city in Caribbean/Latin America to have an automatic dialing phone system; General Hospital of Port-au-Prince was built; 10 more hospitals built outside of Port-au-Prince; 1000 miles of roads were built; the first Agricultural College was established in Damiens; Jacmel was the first town in the Caribbean to be electrified; US Navy built some 150 rural clinics; lighthouses were built; harbors were dredged; etc..
But, but, but the corvées!!! Americans used FORCED LABOR to build the roads!!! Nope. The corvée laws were on the books by the Haitian government since 1804. Since many communities cannot pay taxes by money, they pay said taxes by maintaining the roads near their localities. The corvée laws were derived from Ancient Roman Law. The communities were not paying their taxes with the consequence being that the roads were badly degraded. The American were simply applying Haitian Law; the tax delinquent communities needed to pay up with labor. Nobody enjoys paying taxes in any shape or form. It is cruel and inhumane to make tax delinquents to pay taxes (the horror!!!).
Yet, from 1915-1934, Haiti was still a low-export economy. There were a few American companies present such as United Fruit but their operations were small compared to their operations in Central America. 3 main reasons: (a) Legal restrictions on foreigners owning land in Haiti (b) most cultivated land was owned by small farmers (c) the small farmers did not work with American companies. In Central America most cultivated land was owned by a few oligarchs and said oligarchs worked with the American companies.
Yet, from 1915-1934, Haiti's per capita exports compared to the rest of the Caribbean more than doubled from 8% (1915) to 18% (1934); said ratio is 60% (1820), 5% (2005).
(4) Conflict of visions between the populace (ex-slaves) and the Haitian elite (White, Mixed, Black). The ex-slaves wanted nothing more than a piece of land and cultivate it for their basic needs. Essentially the ex-slaves wanted a Subsistence Economy, a Survival Economy. Nation building was not on the mind of the ex-slaves. Nation building was on the minds of the elite who knew fully well that Haiti cannot be totally self-sufficient and thus needed to rebuild the economy to produce goods/services to trade with other Nations. The elite wanted to rebuild the plantation system and the ex-slaves wanted none of that!!! Henri Christophe (Black) was able to impose the plantation system in the North but at the cost of raising anger of the peasant (ex-slave) class. The peasant anger became so great that Henri Christophe committed suicide in 1820. Ironically, Northern Haiti under Christophe (Black) became wealthier (relatively) than Southern Haiti under Pétion (Mulatto) who pushed for Land Redistribution, not Plantation system.
(5) Marxists sweep under the rug the occupation of the Dominican Republic. Why? Because it does not fit the narrative of Haiti being a victimized innocent. Haiti occupied the Dominican Republic from 1821 to 1844. Haitian president Boyer confiscated all church property, all lands owned by Whites, and deported all foreign clergy. Oh, but that was the second invasion by Haiti; in 1805, the Haitian Army invaded the Dominican Republic, reached Santo Domingo, and made a fast retreat using the destroy and burn tactics much favored by J.J Dessalines. Why the retreat? There were reports that a French flotilla was coming towards Port-au-Prince. Even after 1844 the Haitians did not give up; for the next 12 years there were several minor military excursions into the Dominican Republic. Militarism, combined with Subsistence Economy, deepens Poverty.
But, but, but Haiti did not invade the DR, Haiti occupied the DR by INVITATION!!! Yep. In 1915 the USA occupied Haiti by INVITATION. In 1938 Germany occupied Austria by INVITATION. In 2014 Russia occupied Crimea by INVITATION. Independence Day in the DR celebrates independence from Haiti, not from Spain.
(6) Reparations to France: the Marxists' favorite bugaboo. Were the reparations the fundamental cause of Haiti's poverty? Answer: NO. Haiti was already entrenched in Poverty by 1826 when France demanded reparations. Mind you, the 1826 reparation demand was the THIRD request; the previous 2 were made to Christophe (refused), to Pétion (refused). The third time was the charm for France. Haiti's 1821 invasion of the Dominican Republic (DR) was a strategic error. Military adventurism and a moribund economy made for a very bad mix. France was not stupid. After 5 yrs of Haiti being stuck in the DR quagmire, France popped up (again!) and made the reparations demand. Haiti cannot fight both the French and the Dominicans. Haiti decided to pay reparations. France asked only for 1 year's worth of colonial output. In 1820, Haiti's output was only 1/20 of colonial output; that it took Haiti more than 100 years to pay the reparations is no surprise. From 1826-1844 Haiti plundered the DR of its wealth to pay as much as it can for the reparations.
(7) Often politically driven programs do not bring Economic or Societal Progress. What feels good usually does no good. Embracing victimhood (politically popular as of 2024 AD) brings no kind of prosperity. Become a victim and win a prize!!! Victims of the World, Unite!!!
Damn, you were so quick on the vitriol.