1825: France, Haiti, and the Debt of Independence

Event time: 

Friday, October 10, 2025 - 9:00am

Location: 

HQ 136, 320 York Street See map 

Event description: 

Following its 1804 independence after a thirteen-year revolution, Haiti faced continued French hostility. In 1825, threatened with invasion, President Boyer agreed to pay 150 million francs to secure recognition from France—an unprecedented case of formerly enslaved people compensating their enslavers. This 2025 conference, marking the bicentennial of this devastating agreement, examines its profound impact on Haiti and connects this historical injustice to contemporary global discussions about reparations for descendants of slavery.