1825; revised 1838
Economic coercionSupplement
France imposes an indemnity on Haiti
Haiti; formerly enslaved people and their descendants
Under threat from a French fleet, Haiti accepted an enormous indemnity to compensate former colonists in exchange for recognition. Borrowing to meet the demand imposed a long financial burden on the independent republic.
Dates preserve the source’s precision. This entry is part of a selected historical record; its qualifications and sources are retained below.
Context / qualification
The initial demand was 150 million francs; later terms changed. Avoid treating speculative modern conversions as settled facts.