Haiti gained independence from France in 1804 after a rebellion by the enslaved population. However, the French government forced the young state to make drastic financial reparations to its former colonists. On 1 January 1804, Haitian slaves achieved the unimaginable. They drove out the French colonists and declared their independence. Two centuries later, Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. Endemic corruption and a failing state are often blamed for the disaster. However, Haiti’s ongoing misfortune is largely due to its colonial history and its relationship with France.