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Topic Title
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Reign of famille Duvalier: 1957-1987 United States and Haitian Relations during the Cold War Era
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Topic Summary Description
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When people think of Cold War politics, they think of communism in Cuba, specifically the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. However, Haiti played a pivotal role in the United States' attempts to create an anticommunist
ally. From the Eisenhower administration to the Reagan administration, anti-communist sentiment led to the perpetuation of a brutal dictatorship with many human rights violations. Francois Duvalier, a follower of Voodoo and a Houngan, gained popularity from the lower and middle classes. To solidify his power, he created the Tonton Macoutes (secret police force), and they murdered with impunity. His son, Jean-Claude, drove the
country into poverty, funding his lavish lifestyle; however, he fell out of favor with the Tonton Macoutes and old-school Duvalierists, leading to his exile by 1986. For thirty years, this father and son duo exploited the United
States to the detriment of the Haitian economy. Furthermore, this project studies the fragile but complex relationship between the United States and Haiti during the Cold War era.
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Student Name
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Blake Pou
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Chronology
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1957 – Francois Duvalier started his term
1962 – Punta Del Este Conference regarding Cuba’s status in the OAS
1964 – Declared himself president for life
1965 – Tonton Macoutes raid the Dominican Republic Embassy sheltering dissidents
1971 – Death of Francois; Jean-Claude assumes power
1982 – AIDS epidemic in Port-Au-Prince
1983 – Pope John Paul II visits Haiti
1986 – Jean-Claude was exiled
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1957 – 1986
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Nation(s) or Region(s) within the Caribbean
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Haiti
