Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Role / Field:

Haitian priest and politician who served multiple times as President of Haiti.

Born:

1953-07-15

Century / Era:

1953s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Jean-Bertrand Aristide (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ bɛʁtʁɑ̃ aʁistid]; born 15 July 1953) is a Haitian former Salesian priest and politician who served as president of Haiti in 1991, from 1994 to 1996, and from 2001 to 2004. He lived in exile between the 1991 military coup and 1994, and again between the 2004 coup and 2011. Aristide was a member of the Lavalas Political Organization before he founded the party Fanmi Lavalas in 1996. Aristide was appointed to a parish in Port-au-Prince in 1982 after completing his studies to become a priest of the Catholic Church.

Key Developments & Impact

As a priest, he taught liberation theology and, as president, he attempted to normalize Afro-Creole culture, including Vodou religion, in Haiti. He became a focal point for the pro-democracy movement, first under Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier and then under the military transition regime which followed. Aristide won the December 1990 presidential election, which was seen as the first free and fair election in Haitian history, with 67% of the vote, but was ousted just months later in the September 1991 military coup. His first presidency began political reforms and introduced a moderate economic program. Aristide went into exile...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1953 (1953-07-15): Birth of Jean-Bertrand Aristide — Haitian priest and politician who served multiple times as President of Haiti.
2. 1982: 1982 Milestone — Aristide was appointed to a parish in Port-au-Prince in 1982 after completing his studies to become a priest of the Catholic Church.
3. 1990: 1990 Milestone — Aristide won the December 1990 presidential election, which was seen as the first free and fair election in Haitian history, with 67% of the vote, but was ousted just months later in the September 1991 military coup.
4. 1991: 1991 Milestone — He lived in exile between the 1991 military coup and 1994, and again between the 2004 coup and 2011.
5. 1996: 1996 Milestone — Aristide was a member of the Lavalas Political Organization before he founded the party Fanmi Lavalas in 1996.

Notable Quotes by Jean-Bertrand Aristide

“I am the voice of the people, the voice of the oppressed.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jean-Bertrand Aristide

True or False: “Jean-Bertrand Aristide's initial presidency following the 1990 election was immediately stable and uninterrupted.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His first presidency began with political reforms but was ousted just months later in the September 1991 military coup.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmad Shah Massoud — Contemporary (Born in 1953) (1953): Afghan military leader, known as the "Lion of Panjshir", fought against foreign occupations.
• Alan Moore — Contemporary (Born in 1953) (1953): Pioneering British comic book writer celebrated for deconstructing genre tropes.
• Alex Gibney — Contemporary (Born in 1953) (1953): Acclaimed American documentary filmmaker known for investigative works on power and belief.
• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Shared historical date (07-15 · Born) (1914): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe — Shared historical date (07-15 · Born) (1865): Pioneering British publishing magnate, owner of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror.
• Alfred Molina — Historical peer (Born in 1953) (1953): Versatile British and American actor celebrated for stage and screen roles.
• Alpha Blondy — Historical peer (Born in 1953) (1953): Ivorian reggae singer known for politically and socially motivated songs.
• Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Alesso — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Swedish DJ and record producer known for his high-energy EDM anthems.
• Ahmed Ali (writer) — Historical peer (Died in 1994) (1994): Pioneering Urdu writer, poet, and diplomat from British India to Pakistan.
• 1953 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1953
• July 15 (07-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 15

Frequently Asked Questions about Jean-Bertrand Aristide