Haiti’s Odious "Independence Debt"

In 1825, France imposed on Haiti an indemnity obligation of 150 million francs, ostensibly to compensate French plantation owners for Haitians having fought for and won their freedom in the revolution two decades prior. Haiti assumed this vast debt with French gunboats lurking just offshore, and all parties understood that it could not be repaid without massive borrowing from French (and later U.S.) banks. It would be well into the 20th century before Haiti retired these debts. The Haitian independence debt was odious and unjust. But was it illegal at the time? And if so, does Haiti have an avenue to recover from France? We discuss these questions, and legal history more generally, with legal historian Julia Rudolph of North Carolina State University.

Producer: Leanna Doty