Haiti was visited by Columbus in 1492. It became a French colony in 1677. Following a rebellion led by the former slave Toussaint L'Ouverture, Haiti became independent in 1804. The country was under US occupation from 1915 until 1934.Attempts at establishing a democracy were interrupted by a period of dictatorship during the Second World War, and then defeated by the election in 1957 of François Duvalier ('Papa Doc') as president. He was named president for life in 1964, and upon his death in 1971, was succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude. Baby Doc, as he is known, fled the country in 1986. Control was seized in 1988 by General Henri Namphy, after charges of fraud during elections held the previous January.
Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.
Haiti is divided into 9 departments, 26 provinces and one federal district.