1980s: Before the fall of communism, the United States largely bases its foreign policy on a country's relationship with the Soviet Union. Especially in Latin America, the U.S. government supports corrupt dictatorships in Guatemala, Chile, and the Dominican Republic, simply because they are not communist.

1990s: Communism is no longer viewed as a threat to Western-style democracy, and American foreign policy reflects this shift. Dictators like Manuel Noriega of Panama are deposed because of their involvement in drug trafficking, and democratically elected leaders like Aristide are restored to power.

Haiti in the 1980s: The country's infant mortality rate is 124 per thousand.

United States in the 1980s: The country's infant mortality rate is 31 per thousand.

Haiti in the 1980s: The average life expectancy is 48 years.

United States in the 1980s: The average life expectancy is 72 years.

Aristide and the Refugees

In 1990 the country was...