Question

question 17 of 20
read the following excerpt from articles 14 through 16 of the haitian constitution, a document that established a government in haiti after it won its independence from france. which of the statements below the excerpt is a prediction an observer may have made based on this document?

article. 14 - the colony being essentially agricultural cannot suffer the least disruption in the works of its cultivation.

article. 15 - each habitation shall constitute a manufacture that requires the gathering of cultivators and workers; it shall represent the quiet haven of an active and constant family, of which the owner of the land or his representative shall be the father.

article. 16 - each cultivator and each worker is a member of the family and shares in parts of the revenues. every change in domicile on the part of the cultivator carries the ruin of the cultivation. in order to repress a vice as disruptive to the colony as it is to public order, the governor issues all policy requirements necessary in the circumstances and in conformance with the bases of rules of police.¹

¹ haitian constitution of 1801 (english), art. 14-16, the louverture project, accessed april 3, 2013, http://thelouvertureproject.org/index.php?title=haitian_constitution_of_1801_%28english%29&oldid=2394&action=edit&external_links.

a. haiti’s government changed after the country won its independence from france.

b. haiti’s independence movement was motivated by a desire to end slavery.

c. haiti’s government will probably be forced to import the tools its many farmers require.

d. haiti’s economy has traditionally been based almost entirely on farming.

Explanation:

• For option A: The excerpt is about the Haitian Constitution after independence, not about how the government changed post - independence. The document is establishing governance related to the agricultural - based colony, not focusing on the change of government structure due to independence.
• For option B: There is no mention of slavery in the given articles of the constitution. The articles are centered around agricultural cultivation and the organization of habitations and workers in the context of agriculture.
• For option C: The excerpt does not discuss the need for importing tools for farmers. It is more about the organization of cultivation, habitations, and the role of cultivators and workers within the agricultural setup.
• For option D: Article 14 states that the colony is essentially agricultural and cannot suffer disruption in cultivation. Article 15 and 16 talk about habitations related to cultivation, cultivators, and workers. This strongly suggests that farming (agriculture) has been a central part of Haiti's economy, so this is a valid prediction based on the document.

Answer:

D. Haiti's economy has traditionally been based almost entirely on farming.