The
island of Hispaniola, of which the Dominican Republic forms
the eastern two-thirds and Haiti the remainder, was originally
occupied by Taínos, an Arawak-speaking people. The
Taínos welcomed Christopher Columbus in his first voyage
in 1492, but subsequent colonizers were brutal, reducing the
Taíno population from about 1 million to about 500
in 50 years. To ensure adequate labor for plantations, the
Spanish brought African slaves to the island beginning in
1503.
In the
next century, French settlers occupied the western end of
the island, which Spain ceded to France in 1697, and which,
in 1804, became the Republic of Haiti. The French held on
in the eastern part of the island, until defeated by the Spanish
inhabitants, with help from the Royal Navy, at the battle
of Palo Hincado on November 7, 1808 and the final capitulation
of the besieged Santo
Domingo on July 9, 1809. The Spanish authorities showed
little interest in their restored colony, and the following
period is recalled as La España Boba – 'The Era
of Foolish Spain'. In 1821 the Spanish settlers declared an
independent state, but Haitian forces occupied the whole island
just 9 weeks later and held it for 22 years.
On February
27, 1844, independence was declared from the Haitians. This
was the culmination of a movement led by Juan Pablo Duarte,
then in exile, the hero of Dominican independence. The military
forces that drove the occupators out were led by Pedro Santana.
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The
Dominican Republic's first constitution was adopted
on November 6, 1844. It adopted a presidential form
of government with many liberal tendencies, but it was
marred by Article 210, imposed by Pedro Santana on the
constitutional assembly by force, which gave him the
privileges of a dictatorship until the war of independence
was over. These privileges not only served him to win
the war, but also allowed him to persecute, execute
and drive into exile his political opponents, among
which Duarte was the most important.
In
1861, during one of his presidencies, Santana restored
the Dominican Republic to Spain. This move was widely
rejected and on August 16, 1863, a national war of "restoration"
began. In 1865, independence was restored. Economic
difficulties, the threat of European intervention, and
ongoing internal disorders led to a U.S. occupation
in 1916 and the establishment of a military government
in the Dominican Republic. The occupation ended in 1924,
with a democratically elected Dominican government.
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In 1930,
Rafael Trujillo, a prominent army commander, established absolute
political control. Trujillo promoted economic development--from
which mainly he and his supporters benefitted--and severe
repression of domestic human rights. Mismanagement and corruption
resulted in major economic problems. In August 1960, the Organization
of American States (OAS) imposed diplomatic sanctions against
the Dominican Republic as a result of Trujillo's complicity
in an attempt to assassinate President Rómulo Betancourt
of Venezuela. These sanctions remained in force after Trujillo's
assassination in May 1961. In November 1961, the Trujillo
family was forced into exile, fleeing to France.
In January
1962, a council of state with legislative and executive powers
was formed; it included moderate members of the opposition.
OAS sanctions were lifted January 4, and, after the resignation
of President Joaquín Balaguer on January 16, the council
under President Rafael Bonnelly headed the Dominican government.
In 1963, Juan Bosch was inaugurated President. Bosch was overthrown
in a military coup in September 1963.
After
Bosch's overthrow a "Triumvirate" established a
de facto dictatorship until April 24 1965, when another military
coup led to violence between military elements favoring the
return to government by Bosch and those who proposed a military
junta committed to early general elections. On April 28, after
being requested by the anti Bosch army elements, U.S. military
forces landed, officially to protect U.S. citizens and to
evacuate U.S. and other foreign nationals. Additional U.S.
forces subsequently established order.
In
June 1966, President Balaguer, leader of the Reformist Party
(now called the Social Christian Reformist Party--PRSC), was
elected and then re-elected to office in May 1970 and May
1974, both times after the major opposition parties withdrew
late in the campaign because of the high degree of violence
by pro government groups. In the May 1978 election, Balaguer
was defeated in his bid for a fourth successive term by Antonio
Guzmán of the PRD. Guzmán's inauguration on
August 16 marked the country's first peaceful transfer of
power from one freely elected president to another.
The PRD's
presidential candidate, Salvador Jorge Blanco, won the 1982
elections, and the PRD gained a majority in both houses of
Congress. In an attempt to cure the ailing economy, the Jorge
administration began to implement economic adjustment and
recovery policies, including an austerity program in cooperation
with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In April 1984,
rising prices of basic foodstuffs and uncertainty about austerity
measures led to riots.
Balaguer
was returned to the presidency with electoral victories in
1986 and 1990. Upon taking office in 1986, Balaguer tried
to reactivate the economy through a public works construction
program. Nonetheless, by 1988, the country slid into a 2-year
economic depression, characterized by high inflation and currency
devaluation. Economic difficulties, coupled with problems
in the delivery of basic services--including electricity,
water, and transportation--generated popular discontent that
resulted in frequent protests, occasionally violent, including
a paralyzing nationwide strike in June 1989.
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In
1990, Balaguer instituted a second set of economic reforms.
After concluding an IMF agreement, balancing the budget,
and curtailing inflation, the Dominican Republic is
experiencing a period of economic growth marked by moderate
inflation, a balance in external accounts, and a steadily
increasing GDP.
The
voting process in 1986 and 1990 was generally seen as
fair, but allegations of electoral board fraud tainted
both victories. The elections of 1994 were again marred
by charges of fraud. Following a compromise calling
for constitutional and electoral reform, President Balaguer
assumed office for an abbreviated term. In June 1996,
Leonel Fernández Reyna was elected to a 4-year
term as president. In May 2000 Hipólito Mejía
was elected to a 4-year term as president. In May 2004,
Leonel Fernández Reyna was again elected to a
4-year term as president and inaugurated as such on
August 16th, 2004.
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