Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a country which accounts for two thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. It borders Haiti.
History
Spanish colony
The area was first involved in world trade in 1492, when Columbus landed on the island. When the Spaniards came back in 1496 they founded the present capital, Santo Domingo, as the first European city in America. The country came under Spanish rule. France took over the part of Hispaniola, which today is Haiti. During colonial times served the Dominican Republic as a sugar supplier to Spain and France. Many whites moved to the country during this period.
In Haiti
In 1822, the Dominican Republic, however, invaded Haiti. Haiti had detached itself from France in 1804 and had thus become the first black republic. The contrast between the two neighbors were great, and here was the foundation of many years of hostile neighborhood created. In 1844, beat the Dominican Republic made itself independent, and was for 16 years without influence from any other country. 1861 reconquered Spain country, but only for a short period. From 1865, the Dominican Republic was an independent republic.
Instability and American occupation
After being president for six years, Ramón Cáceres murdered in 1911. Then followed several years of political instability and civil war. Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra, who became president in 1914 in relatively free elections, was forced to resign in May 1916th USA: U.S. President Wilson ordered an American occupation of the Dominican republic. Marine Soldiers from the U.S. went ashore on 16 May 1916 and gained control over the country within two the Month. The military government that prisoners of the United States, which was led by counter-Admiral Harry Shepard Knapp, did not win the inhabitants’ trust. Some government positions were filled with U.S. Marines office agents, after the Dominicans refused to be part of the government. The occupation ended in October 1922 and elections held in March 1924th Winner of the presidential election were Horacio Vásquez Lajara who had collaborated with the Americans. During his six years in power were respected civil liberties and the economy showed progress. However, he was forced to resign in 1930 and was succeeded by the commander of the army, Gen. Rafael Trujillo.
Military Dictatorship Trujillo
Trujillo took power in 1930 and made himself supreme leader. He and his immediate successors also helped several dictators in other countries, including Haiti’s dictator and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. In 1961 Trujillo was murdered, leading to a new period of civil war, during HAT communists became ever stronger and nearly had a hero to take power, which contributed to the U.S. 1965 again occupied the country for a period.
Balaguer regime
In 1966, Joaquín Balaguer, who had been one of Trujillo’s henchmen, president and ruled the country for almost 30 years. The educated Balaguer managed auktoritært but with less violence than Trujillo. He developed into becoming a strong force in the country’s politics and would even at 94 years of age do not stand for presiden but died before this occurred.
Successive presidents
After Balaguer’s death, democracy has been strengthened and the power is not equally been assembled from one and the same person. Leonel Fernandez took office in 1996, followed by Hipólito Mejía in 2000 and again Leonel Fernandez in 2004, which has remained in power ever since.
Ecuador & Dominica
