Brief History of Cap-Haitien Background Information: Population: About 200,000 Located on the North coast of Haiti Second largest city in the country, second only to Port-au-Prince. Nicknamed “Le Cap” Benefits: Increase our understanding of the history and culture of the Haitian people.

The Beginning The Beginning During the colonial era, Spanish explorers decided to establish the capital of the colony at Santo Domingo of what is now known as the Dominican Republic. Due to this, the northern side of the island was largely neglected. French pirates populated Cap-Haitien and the surrounding area to illegally trade with the Spanish during war times. When the war ended, the western third of the island was given to the French in a treaty. This accounts for the language differences between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Internal Struggles Slave Revolution The city prospered through the 18th century, largely due to the coffee plantations. Known as the Paris of the island. While the French Revolution guaranteed freedom for all, it did not apply to the slaves working on the plantations. The slave revolution lasted from 1791 to 1803 ending with the final Battle of Vertieres near Cap-Haitien. The city is now known within the country as the birthplace of independence. Split Kingdoms In 1811, the new independent nation of Haiti split into two kingdoms. Cap-Haitien became the capital of the northern kingdom, and Port-au-Prince became the capital of the southern kingdom. King Henry Christophe ruled the Southern Kingdom from Cap-Haitien. The Northern Kingdom collapsed after the death of its king and a brief power struggle with the Southern Kingdom.

Conclusion The Aftermath: After the fall of the Northern Kingdom, Cap-Haitien had second tier status for awhile, and the rebellious elite living there gave it a reputation as a hotbed for revolutionaries. Thus Port-au-Prince grew and Cap-Haitien remained underdeveloped. Today, however, that is changing. Cap-Haitien is becoming more and more of a tourist destination. It is a safer tourist destination than the corrupt and overpopulated Port-au-Prince. Its population is on the rise as many people have moved from Port-au-Prince due to the damage caused by the earthquakes 2010. Cap-Haitien still struggles with poverty and unemployment.