A 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. It was the largest quake to hit here in two centuries. The quake's epicenter was in Leogane, just 12 miles outside of the nation's capital of Port-au-Prince. Thousands were killed and thousands more wounded, especially in the busy city. International rescue teams continue to dig out survivors and transport much needed supplies and medical staff into the area as quickly as possible.

Worldwide, people are concerned about loved ones who may have been affected by the earthquake. Some have connections to Haiti through the 20,000 expatriate Americans who live there, and about half a million immigrants living in the U.S. have their roots in Haiti.

About nine million people live in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Haitians have endured many challenges as a nation over the years, and though this disaster is one of the most difficult they have faced, many have hope that the spirit and perseverance of the Haiti people will help them rebuild and heal their trauma.

In the meantime, take a virtual journey to Haiti to uncover the history and culture of this nation and its people.

Haiti's Turbulent Past

Your first stop is the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington D.C. to collect some basics on the nation's location and historical highlights. Start with an overview About Haiti, and review Haiti at a glance. With what other nation does Haiti share its island? What are the official languages and main religions? About how many people live in Haiti per square kilometer or square mile? What is a Haitian's life expectancy at birth?

Continue through the at-a-glance section, by checking out their Flag and Coat of Arms and the National Anthem (open the PDF for the English lyrics). What do you think the anthem reflects about the history of this nation? How does it compare to the history of your own nation's flag and anthem? Write a paragraph of your analysis.

Also, print or copy the Key Dates in Haiti's History (PDF) for later reference. Review the list of Haitian Rulers and create categories that match the Notes about term listed in that column in the table. Add up how many leaders fall into each category. Discuss with one or more classmates how key events affected each ruler's term—how his term began, how it ended, and what happened after his term ended. In what ways do you think these polictical instabilities may affect not only the government, but also the infrastructure, social well-being, and economics of Haiti? With one or more classmates, brainstorm a list of possible impacts for further discussion as an entire class.

Beyond Politics

Underneath the political upheavals that has rocked this nation into poverty and violence over the years, a proud and colorful people live. Their unique mix of ancestry shows up in many of their traditions, including their religious beliefs and practices.

Voodoo (also spelled, "Vodou") is one prominent aspect of Haitian identity that reflects this unique mix. To learn more about it, your next stop is The Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History.

Begin by reading the Intro. What is so special about how Haitians became free citizens? Move on to the About Haiti section. Click along the timeline, and a pop-up window will appear highlighting artwork depicting that era. Add what you learn here to the key events timeline you printed earlier by writing in the margins or between paragraphs.

Next, learn more about Haitian Vodou's Roots. Click on the names of the various religions—Catholicism, European Mysticism, Fon/Nago, Freemasonry, Kongo, and Taino. Think about how the traditions brought from other places influence religious beliefs and in Haiti. From which religion did the term "vodou" originate?

Now browse the Ritual section to read about Ritual & the Temple and the Altars. What is the significance of the central pillar, or "poto mitan"? What do the altars represent, and how are they different from each other?

In the Spirits section, and read the Intro to find out what an Iwa is. Then check out the 10 spirits, including Agwe, Bosou, Ezili Danto, Gran Bwa, and Marasa. What other traditional religions are reflected in these beliefs and artful images? What purpose do these spirits serve to Vodou practitioners?

Lastly, browse through the Tools of Worship. Why is the drum Vodou's most sacred object? What are Drapos, Offerings & Mediums used for? What are some examples of Signifiers and Summoning Objects? In what ways do these tools help connect people—using all their senses—to what they perceive as the spiritual world?

Using the historical timeline, pick one era. Imagine you are a tour guide in Haiti during that time period. Based on the information and insight you gained during this lesson, develop a brochure for tourists that explains what to expect during their visit to Haiti. Make sure to include notes about the current political leader, why they may need to watch out for civil unrest, interesting cultural facts, geographical features, etc. Revisit this lesson's websites to review information details, as needed. Include drawings, printed photos, or maps, as desired. Make sure to include the "current" year for your pamphlet.