Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies
church, and the absence of a central state and of a national military
institution independent of individual leaders or loyalties.
From the United States Occupation (1916-24) to the
Emergence of Trujillo (1930)
The United States occupation of the Dominican Republic
was to be a critical turning point in Dominican history,
although not for the reasons intended by the occupying forces.
Led by military governor Rear Admiral Harry S. Knapp, programs
were enacted in education, health, sanitation, agriculture,
and communications; highways were built; and other
public works were created. In addition, other programs crucial
to strengthening state structures and a market economy were
implemented, including both a census and a cadastral survey.
The latter allowed land titles to be regularized and United
States sugar companies to expand their holdings dramatically,
even as infrastructure to facilitate exports was developed. The
most significant measure was the establishment of a new
Dominican constabulary force.
Most Dominicans, however, greatly resented the loss of their
sovereignty to foreigners, few of whom spoke Spanish or displayed
much real concern for the welfare of the republic. The
most intense opposition to the occupation arose in the eastern
provinces of El Seibo and San Pedro de Macoris. From 1917 to
1921, the United States forces battled a guerrilla movement
known as gavilleros in that area. Although the guerrillas enjoyed
considerable support among the population and benefited
from a superior knowledge of the terrain, they eventually
yielded to the occupying forces' superior power.
After World War I, however, public opinion in the United
States began to run against the occupation, and in June 1921
United States representatives presented a withdrawal proposal,
known as the Harding Plan. The plan called for Dominican ratification
of all acts of the military government, approval of a
US$2.5-million loan for public works and other expenses, the
acceptance of United States officers for the constabulary—now
known as the National Guard (Guardia Nacional)—and the
holding of elections under United States supervision. Popular
reaction to the plan was overwhelmingly negative. Moderate
Dominican leaders, however, used the plan as the basis for further
negotiations that resulted in an agreement allowing for
the selection of a provisional president to rule until elections
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