End of the Duvalier Dynasty
François Duvalier ruled Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971, building an authoritarian state supported by the militia commonly known as the Tonton Macoute. His son Jean-Claude succeeded him at age nineteen and continued dynastic rule.
The January Earthquake
At 4:53 p.m. local time on January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Léogâne, west of Port-au-Prince. Strong shaking affected the densely populated capital region and surrounding communities.
