Part 11/15:
However, independence came with immense economic and diplomatic challenges. France, unwilling to recognize a Black-led republic, imposed a blockade and demanded reparations for lost colonial property, especially the enslaved population. It was not until 1825 that France diplomatically acknowledged Haitian sovereignty, but only after Haiti paid a hefty indemnity—equivalent to billions in today’s dollars—perpetuating a legacy of economic dependency and debt.