 As our national debt continues to grow by the trillions, I think we've given up even trying to comprehend how much a trillion is. But has there ever been a time when America had no debt? Yeah. 1835. In that one year, the United States sold off land in the West and paid off all of its debt. We were the only nation that was debt-free. But it only lasted one year. By the way, where is your hope for America?