Haiti Flag

The flag of Haiti consists of two equal sized horizontal stripes, one red and one blue. In the center of the two stripes is Haiti’s coat of arms, which is a palmette surrounded by the liberty cap. Under the palm trees there is a trophy with the words of the national motto L’union fait la force, which means in union there is strength. On either side of the palm trees are cannons, and next to the cannons are a single flag on each side.

What does the Haiti flag mean? The blue stripe symbolizes the black Haitians. The red stripe symbolizes the mulatto Haitians. The flag represents them working together. The red can also represent the blood that was given in the fight for independence.

Haiti’s national flag is based upon the French flag. Haiti gained its independence from France on January 1, 1804. The current Haiti flag was adopted on February 26, 1986. Haiti removed the white stripe from its flag because it represented white oppression. The stripes were changed from vertical to horizontal in the mid nineteenth century.

From May 25, 1964 to February 25, 1986, the Haiti flag was changed because of the dictatorships of Francois and Jean Claude Duvalier. Flag Haiti was a red and black vertical striped flag still with the coat of arms. These have been the only two Haiti flags since the country gained its independence.

The flag originally came from the war of independence from France. On May 18, 1803 Jean Jacques Dessalines, a Haitian rebel leader, tore up the French flag, getting rid of the white stripe. In 1807, General Alexander Petion changed the stripes of the flag from vertical to horizontal.

Haiti and the Dominican Republic split an island called Hispaniola. Christopher Columbus discovered Hispaniola in 1492. In 1697, Spain gave France part of the island known as Haiti. In 1790 Toussaint L’Ouverture led a revolt of slaves. Haiti gained its independence in 1804. Dictator “Papa Doc” Duvalier came to power in 1957. In 1971 “Baby Doc” Duvalier came into power after his father. In 1986, “Baby Doc” fled the country in exile. In 1991, a coup d’etat ousted President Jean Bertrand Aristide. In 1994, with United States assistance he regained the presidency.

Individuals can choose to buy small Haiti flag at any number of websites available on the internet.