For at least 5,000 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America for the Europeans, the island, which he named Hispaniola, was inhabited by Amer-Indians from a blending of waves of immigrants and were called "Taino," a word meaning "good" or "noble" in their language.
When Columbus landed on the island he named Hispaniola he wrote in his journal about how beautiful the island, including high, forested mountains and large river valleys. He described the Taíno as very peaceful, generous and cooperative with the Europeans, and as a result, the Europeans saw the Taíno as easy targets with gold ornaments and jewelry from the deposits found in Hispaniola's rivers. So after a month or so of feasting and exploring the northern coast of Hispaniola, Columbus returned to Spain to announce his discovery; because he lost his flagship, he left sailors behind.
The first permanent European settlement, Isabella, was founded in 1493, on the north coast of the island. From there the Spaniards could exploit the gold in the Cibao Valley in the interior of the country. The Spaniards brought horses and dogs, and combined with their armor and iron weapons, as well as disease germs against which the Taíno had no immunities, the Taíno were unable to resist for long. Unlike Europeans, Africans, and Asians (who had exchanged diseases for centuries along with commercial goods), the Taíno had no immunities to the diseases that the Spaniards and their animals carried to the Americas. Forced into brute labor and unable to take time to engage in agricultural activities in order to feed themselves, famine accelerated the death rate.
By the middle of the 17th century, the island of Tortuga, located to the west of Cap Haitien, had been settled by smugglers, run-away indentured servants, and members of crews of various European ships.
The French, envious of Spain's possessions in the Americas, sent colonists to settle Tortuga and the northwestern coast of Hispaniola, which the Spaniards had totally abandoned by 1603. In order to domesticate the pirates, the French supplied them with women who had been imprisoned when accused of prostitution and thieving. The western third of Hispaniola became a French possession called Saint Dominique in 1697, and over the next century developed into what became one of the richest colonies in the world.
In 1822, fearful the French would mount another expedition from Spanish Santo Domingo to re-establish slavery, as they had threatened to do, Haiti's president Jean-Pierre Boyer sent an army that invaded and took over the eastern portion of Hispaniola. Haiti once again abolished slavery and incorporated Santo Domingo into the Republic of Haiti.
For the next 22 years the island of Hispaniola was under Haitian control. Due to their loss of political and economic control, the the former Spanish ruling class deeply resented the occupation; during the late 1830's, an underground resistance group, La Trinitaria, was organized under the leadership of Juan Pablo Duarte. After multiple attacks on the Haitian army, and because of internal discord among the Haitians, the Haitians eventually retreated. Independence of the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola was officially declared on February 27, 1844, and the name República Dominicana (Dominican Republic) was adopted.
During the 19th century, the country's economy shifted from ranching to other sources of revenue. In the southwestern region, a new industry arose with the cutting down and exporting of precious woods like mahogany, oak and guayacán. In the northern plains and valleys around Santiago, industry focused on growing tobacco for some of the world's best cigars, and on coffee.
The New York Herald
April 26, 1869
Progress of the Annexation Idea—Counter Influences at Work—Napoleon's Plan for a West Indian Confederation
St. Domingo, April 2, 1869
The idea of annexation to or some form of protection from the United States is taking possession of the Dominican mind to an incredible extent. In a recent trip In a recent trip Into the interior sections, where the African population largely preponderates and where we least expected such an exhibition of interest, we were overwhelmed with inquiries as to when the
Americans were coming. Almost everybody has
something he expects to sell to the Americans for
their "beautiful gold and silver." Lands, cattle
horses, pigs, poultry even are to find a cash market when the "Americans shall take charge of Dominican prosperity."There is a secret but steady counter current at work, however, which will take a distinct form
should Congress refuse to authorize the President to effect the annexation. One and all deny the soft impeachment, but it is not the less true, nevertheless that at least two or the European consuls have united in urging a counter plan upon the Dominican Cabinet, and that one member (but one, I believe) decidedly prefers the European plan to the policy of annexation to the United States. Some members of the Senate say that while the vote for annexation would undoubtedly be unanimous, if proffered by the
United States, the counter plan is equally sure to
work out the independent prosperity of the island. It is even asserted, but not on official authority that I can learn, that the inspiration comes from the Tuileries, because a gentleman from Paris has been the chief advocate among the Dominican merchants of non-annexation.The counter plan looks to the confederation of Cuba, Haiti, Porto Rico and Jamaica, possibly, under a European recognition which shall amount to an efficient protection of the Republic of the Antilles, it is thought here that such a pressure could be brought upon Spain by France, England and other powers, that Spain would give up Cuba to the Cubans for a few million francs upon the condition that Cuba shall remain an Independent State and agree to grant something like permanent free trade for Spanish ships. If the Dominican republic will renounce the idea or annexation to the United States and declare the ports of Samana and Monte Christo free and neutral ports, valuable aid and countenance
will be rendered the Baez government through a
bank which parties stand ready to establish, taking the mining rents as a security for the loan now in abeyance.The mere discussion of annexation has done much for the relief of Baez, coming up as it did contemporaneously with the Cuban revolution. It became evident to the alert consular agents of Europe that the Grant administration would have the power to add these three islands—Cuba, Haiti and Porto Rico—to the Union, whether Europe was pleased or not; no nation on the other side of the water would venture beyond a little quiet intrigue to prevent it; but should the United States be disinclined to annex just now, what then? Why, endeavor to make future annexation possible. Can this be done? Here it is believed by many that it is not only feasible, but in some degree pre-arranged to defeat the annexation of the Antilles by means of St. Domingo. If the ocean cable should suddenly flash the intelligence that Napoleon had forestalled the Grand Cabinet in recognizing that Cuba "a whole people struggling for their existence as a distinct nationality," and in asking Spain to grant them the political boon of independence, both Spain and the Cubans will be apt to heed the advice of this strong mediator. In advance of this, the Dominican republic will have learned exactly what it has to expect from the United States. If the flat should be free acceptance into the Union Cuba will not hear of any other destiny for herself than annexation. Neither will France waste much diplomacy to rescue Cuba from Spain if the island of Haiti—second only to Cuba in importance—is given over to the United States. But with both islands amenable to European influence, with all their products and tariffs arranged to meet the interests of European manufactures and commerce, the affair is worth managing.
In 1882, General Ulysses Heureux came into power. His brutal dictatorship consisted of a corrupt regime that maintained power by violent repression of his opponents. Following his assassination in 1899, several individuals came to power, only to be rapidly overthrown by their political opponents, and the country's internal situation continuously degenerated into chaos.
Around the turn of the century, the sugar industry was revived, and so many Americans came to the Dominican Republic to buy plantations that they came to dominate this vital sector of the economy. In 1916, Americans, wanting to expand their influence and power used the First World War as an excuse to bring in U.S. Marines to "protect it" against vulnerability to large European powers such as Germany. They had used this argument just prior to send in U.S. Marines to occupy Haiti.