Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Table A.
Dominican Republic: Chronology ofImportant Events
Period
Description
1492
1492-1697
1503
1586
1697
1801
1802
1809
1818-43
1821
1838
1844
1849
1861
1865
1882-99
1905
1916-24
1930-61
1937
1942
February 27
July 12
March 18
March 3
1965 April 28
1966-78
1978-82
1982-86
1986-96
1996
Columbus lands at present-day Mole Saint-Nicolas, Haiti; establishes
first permanent Spanish New World settlement at site of Santo Domingo.
Spain colonizes Hispaniola.
Nicolas de Ovando named governor and supreme justice; institutes
encomienda system. Importation of African slaves begins.
Sir Francis Drake captures city of Santo Domingo, collects ransom
for returning it to Spain.
Spain, under Treaty of Ryswick, cedes western third of Hispaniola
(Saint-Domingue—modern Haiti) to France.
Toussaint Louverture invades Santo Domingo, abolishes slavery.
France occupies the Spanish-speaking colony, reinstituting slavery in
that part of the island.
Spanish rule is restored.
Under presidency ofJean-Pierre Boyer, Haiti invades and occupies
Santo Domingo; abolishes slavery.
Spanish lieutenant governor Jose Nunez de Caceres declares colony's
independence as Spanish Haiti.
Juan Pablo Duarte creates secret independence movement, La Trinitaria.
La Trinitaria members and others rebel; Santo Domingo gains independence.
Pedro Santana's forces take Santo Domingo and proclaim Santana
ruler.
Buenaventura Baez Mendez becomes president; Santana expels him
in 1853. (Baez resumes presidency 1865-66, 1868-74, 1878-79).
Santana announces annexation of Dominican Republic by Spain.
Queen of Spain approves repeal of Santo Domingo annexation.
Ulises Heureaux rules as president/dictator.
General Customs Receivership established; United States administers
Dominican finances.
United States marines occupy Dominican Republic
Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina, head of National Guard, becomes
president/ dictator; rules directly or indirectly until assassinated.
Dominican military massacre some 15,000-20,000 Haitians near
Dominican-Haitian border.
Dominican women given suffrage.
United States intervenes, fearing a potential communist takeover
because Dominican troops are unable to control a civil war.
Joaquin Balaguer Ricardo becomes president in 1966, and United
States troops leave.
Antonio Guzman Fernandez becomes president; creates a more
democratic regime.
Salvador Jorge Blanco elected president.
Balaguer returns to presidency.
In free elections, Leonel Fernandez Reyna is elected in second
round.
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