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Columbus reached Haiti in 1492; the local natives soon died out from new diseases.  France set up a colony in 1697 and created the richest sugar-producing colony in the world, using African slaves who were worked to death. In 1791 the slaves revolted--the world's first successful slave revolt--killed the whites and mulattoes, and under [[Toussaint L'Ouverture]] became the first black republic. [[Napoleon]] sent an invasion army that was devastated by disease, and in 1804 Haiti secured its independence--the second country in the Americas to gain its independence.

Columbus reached Haiti in 1492; the local natives soon died out from new diseases.  France set up a colony in 1697 and created the richest sugar-producing colony in the world, using African slaves who were worked to death. In 1791 the slaves revolted--the world's first successful slave revolt--killed the whites and mulattoes, and under [[Toussaint L'Ouverture]] became the first black republic. [[Napoleon]] sent an invasion army that was devastated by disease, and in 1804 Haiti secured its independence--the second country in the Americas to gain its independence.

==Society==

==Society==

About 80% of the population lives in wretched [[poverty]], and Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hempisphere.<ref>http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/HAITIEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21040686~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:338165,00.html</ref>  

About 80% of the population lives in wretched [[poverty]], and Haiti is the poorest countries in the western hempisphere.<ref>http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/HAITIEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21040686~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:338165,00.html</ref>  

French is taught in schools, but the language of conversation is [[Haitian Creole]].

French is taught in schools, but the language of conversation is [[Haitian Creole]].