Isabella Carter
Haiti, officially known as the Republic of Haiti, is a country located on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It has a rich and complex history, including a brief period as a constitutional monarchy in the early 19th century. Following the Haitian Revolution, the country was divided into two parts, with the northern leader, Henri Christophe, establishing a constitutional monarchy in 1811. This period of monarchy ended in 1820, and since then, Haiti has had a variety of governmental systems, including several constitutions and a brief return to monarchy in the mid-19th century. Today, Haiti is a democratic republic with a president and a parliament.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Haiti's history of monarchy
Haiti has had a complex political history, with two periods of monarchy. The country gained independence from France in 1804, becoming the second independent republic in the New World. However, the country was soon divided between two leaders, each with their own vision for the country's future.
The first period of monarchy in Haiti began in 1804 with the First Empire of Haiti, also known as the Empire of Haiti. The Governor-General of Haiti, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, created the empire and was proclaimed emperor by the generals of the Haitian Revolution Army. He took the name Jacques I and his coronation was held on 6 October 1804. The empire was an elective monarchy, with the constitution setting out the way the country was to be governed and the succession to the throne. However, this first attempt at monarchy was short-lived, as Emperor Jacques I was assassinated in 1806.
Following the assassination of Emperor Jacques I, the country was split between two leaders: Alexandre Pétion in the south and Henri Christophe in the north. Pétion became President of the Republic of Haiti in the south, while Christophe established the State of Haiti in the north. In 1811, Christophe transformed the northern state into a kingdom and had himself crowned King Henry I of Haiti. This marked the second period of monarchy in the country's history. He established a constitutional monarchy, complete with a noble class that included princes, dukes, counts, barons, and chevaliers. King Henry I ruled until his death in 1820, when he committed suicide due to ill health, unpopularity, and the fear of a coup.
After the death of King Henry I, his son Jacques-Victor Henry was proclaimed king, taking the name Henry II. However, his reign was even shorter than his father's, as he was hanged by insurgents just ten days after taking the throne. Following this, General Jean-Pierre Boyer came to power, reuniting the two parts of Haiti and putting an end to the country's brief experiment with monarchy.
Constitutional Monarchy: Citizen's Voting Rights Explored
You may want to see also
Haiti's current government
Haiti is currently a semi-presidential republic, a multiparty system in which the President of Haiti is head of state and is elected directly by popular elections. The Prime Minister acts as head of the government and is appointed by the President, chosen from the majority party in the National Assembly. Executive power is exercised by the President and Prime Minister, who together constitute the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Assembly of Haiti. The government is organized unitarily, meaning the central government delegates powers to the departments without a constitutional need for consent.
Haiti's current constitution came into effect on 20 June 2012. It is the 22nd constitution in the country's history. The first constitution was promulgated under the short-lived government of then-Governor-General Toussaint Louverture in 1801. The 1805 constitution set forth the country's independence from France and established the First Empire of Haiti, an elective monarchy. The Governor-General of Haiti, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, was proclaimed emperor by the Generals of the Haitian Revolution Army and took the name Jacques I. The constitution of 20 May 1805 set out the way the empire was to be governed, with the country split into six military divisions. The constitution also set out the succession to the throne, with the crown being elective and the reigning emperor having the power to appoint his successor.
In 1806, Jacques I was assassinated, leading to a split in the country. Henri Christophe established the northern State of Haiti (later the Kingdom of Haiti) and proclaimed himself King of Haiti in 1811, establishing a hereditary monarchy. The southern Republic of Haiti was led by Alexandre Pétion. In 1849, President Faustin Soulouque re-established an Empire in Haiti that lasted until 1859.
Haiti's current structure of government was set forth in the Constitution of 29 March 1987. The latest presidential election was held on 20 November 2016, and the latest president was Jovenel Moïse until his assassination on 7 July 2021. Haiti has had no president since the assassination and no sitting parliament. Prime Minister Ariel Henry currently leads the government.
Constitutional Monarchy: Revolution Ideals Realized
You may want to see also
The role of the monarch
Haiti was a constitutional monarchy for a brief period in the early 19th century after the Haitian revolution. The country was divided into two parts, with the northern leader, Henri Christophe, creating a constitutional monarchy.
In the case of Haiti, Henri Christophe was the monarch who established himself as the President of the State of Haiti and later as President for life and generalissimo. He wanted to legitimize his power and re-establish the empire. He created a noble class and appointed four princes, eight dukes, 22 counts, 37 barons, and 14 chevaliers. He also built six castles, eight palaces, the Royal Chapel of Milot, and the Citadelle Laferrière, which was built to protect the kingdom from possible French invasions.
To promote stability and appease the opponents of the monarchy, Henri Christophe established the "Code Henri," which was composed of a set of laws that promoted education. According to the "Code Henri," the king held the majority of the power but was assisted by a cabinet of six ministers, including a chancellor appointed by the king.
Constitutional Monarchy: Autocracy in Disguise?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$15.3 $32.5
Haiti's constitution
Haiti has had 22 constitutions throughout its history, with the latest version of the document approved by Parliament in March 2011 and coming into effect on 20 June 2012. The country's first constitution was promulgated under the short-lived government of Toussaint Louverture in 1801, who was one of the leaders of the Haitian Revolution.
The earliest Haitian constitutions were considered extremely progressive for their time, with the first decade of the 19th century seeing the country's leaders outlaw slavery, "colour prejudice" (racism), and colonialism. Haiti was therefore the first state to permanently abolish slavery and to attempt to criminalise racism, as well as to forbid its leaders from invading foreign countries.
The Haitian Constitution of 1806, for the southern Republic of Haiti, was written largely by Alexandre Pétion. A revision of this constitution in 1816 created a bicameral legislature of a House of Representatives and a Senate, established Pétion as President for Life, and restricted the legislature to only consider bills proposed by the president. It also provided for laws by presidential order, except for taxation. This constitution also provided automatic Haitian citizenship to any black, Indian, or person of mixed race who resided in the nation for more than a year.
The Constitution of 1807 formalised a northern State of Haiti with Christophe as its President for Life and a small appointed Council of State, composed primarily of generals. The Constitution of 1811 for the northern State of Haiti established a hereditary monarchy under Christophe.
The 1987 Constitution banned dual citizenship, effectively restricting Haitian-Americans from running for president in Haiti. It was ratified in March 1987 but was completely suspended from June 1988 to March 1989, only being fully reinstated in October 1994. The 2012 Constitution, which is currently in force, re-legalised dual citizenship and allows Haitian citizens to run for political office (except for the offices of president, prime minister, senator, or member of the lower house of Parliament). It also demands the establishment of a permanent constitutional court to resolve disputes between Parliament and the executive, a new permanent electoral council, and that 30% of government jobs be held by women.
Understanding Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy: A Modern-Day Monarchy
You may want to see also
Haiti's independence
Haiti, or Hayti, as it was sometimes spelt, became the second independent republic in the New World in 1804. This was a result of the Haitian Revolution, a series of conflicts between 1791 and 1804 between Haitian slaves, colonists, the armies of the British and French colonizers, and several other parties. The Haitian Revolution was a successful insurrection by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue, now known as Haiti.
The Haitian Revolution had many international repercussions. It ended Napoleon's attempts to create a French empire in the Western Hemisphere and arguably influenced France's decision to sell its North American holdings to the United States (the Louisiana Purchase), thereby expanding slavery into that territory. The revolution also frightened France and Britain into abolishing the seizure of Africans as slaves and ending the transatlantic slave trade.
The Haitian Revolution was the only known slave uprising in human history that led to the founding of a state free from slavery and ruled by non-whites and former captives. The earliest Haitian constitutions were extremely progressive for their time, not only outlawing slavery but also "colour prejudice" (racism) and colonialism. Post-revolutionary Haiti was, therefore, the first state to permanently abolish slavery and attempt to criminalize racism. The revolution's impact on the institution of slavery was felt throughout the Americas.
Following the revolution, Haiti was briefly divided into two parts, with the northern leader, Henri Christophe, creating a constitutional monarchy. The Governor-General of Haiti, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, crowned himself emperor under the name Jacques I on 8 October 1804. The constitution of 20 May 1805 outlined how the empire was to be governed, with the country split into six military divisions. However, Jacques I was assassinated on 17 October 1806, and two members of his administration, Alexandre Pétion and Henri Christophe, assumed power, further dividing the country into the southern Republic of Haiti and the northern State of Haiti (later the Kingdom of Haiti).
Constitutional Monarchy: A Guide to Accessing Power
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Haiti was a constitutional monarchy for a brief period in the early 19th century. After the Haitian revolution, the country was divided into two parts, with the northern leader, Henri Christophe, creating a constitutional monarchy.
Alexandre Pétion was the leader of the southern part of Haiti, known as the Republic of the South.
The Haitian Revolution led to the creation of the first free black state in the Americas. Haiti became the second independent republic in the New World.
Yes, in 1902, Pierre Nord Alexis, the grandson of former King Henri, took power and declared himself president for life. He proposed a new constitutional monarchy with himself as king, but this sparked a revolution that forced him into exile in 1908.
