Haiti

The Haitian Revolution, which began in 1791 under the leadership of Toussaint Louverture and concluded with independence in 1804, overturned the Atlantic slave system and sent shockwaves through every slave-holding society in the Americas. France responded by demanding crippling reparations — payments that Haiti was still making into the 20th century and which drained resources that might have funded development. The United States did not formally recognize Haitian independence until 1862.

In the 21st century, Haiti has faced compounding catastrophes: the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed over 200,000 people and displaced millions; repeated hurricane strikes; chronic political instability; and the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which plunged the country into a security crisis dominated by armed gangs. Despite these extraordinary challenges, Haitian culture — its art, music, literature, and the spiritual tradition of Vodou — has produced a creative vibrancy that commands international respect. The Haitian diaspora, particularly in the United States, Canada, and France, has become a significant force in those countries' cultural and political life.