Introduction
The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea and bordering Haiti. It is a Latin American country that was born as a Spanish colony first, and its development was heavily influenced by Spain later on. Throughout its existence, the country went from fighting for its independence from the Spanish Empire to surviving dictatorships and experiencing a range of political systems and economic policies. This report will focus on the history of the country, examining the economic, social, and political aspects of its past.
Economic History
The economic development of the Dominican Republic began with the advent of the colonial era. The territory of the modern Dominican Republic became the first permanent settlement in the Americas in 1496 (Na 48). Most of the Spanish colonies in Latin America were mainly used for agriculture, with the territory of the Dominican Republic being no exception. Further economic development was based on the cultivation of sugarcane and tobacco; the lands were also used for cattle ranching (Na 75).
The Spanish applied a labor system called encomienda in the colonized lands, including the Dominican Republic. In this system, the land was taken from the indigenous populations and granted to the colonizers, who demanded the people living on those lands provide tribute and labor to them. The system was used until the 16th century and had a significant negative impact on the economic prosperity of the indigenous people.
In 1844, the Dominican Republic finally became a sovereign nation. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the economic growth of the country was hindered due to continuous political instability. Civil wars and foreign interventions exhausted the country’s resources, and the United States, by occupying the country several times during this period, exploited the economy as well. Agriculture continued to be the basis of development until the process of industrialization began in the middle of the 20th century. Later on, the tourism sector started taking the leading role.
Social History
The identity of the people of the Dominican Republic has been developing due to cultural and ethnic diversity. The original indigenous population was mixed with the Europeans and the Africans who were brought to the island by the Europeans as enslaved people. All the cultures and ethnicities have been influencing one another, creating a unique social landscape. On the other hand, racial hierarchy and discrimination have also persisted along with racial diversity (Valdes 20). Colorism was one of the defining features of Dominican society, with lighter-skinned folks enjoying greater privileges than darker-skinned people.
In addition to being ruled by the Spanish Empire, the Dominican Republic was also under the dominion of Haiti for 20 years in the 19th century. That period had a significant impact on the country’s social development. In particular, the introduction of the Creole language and African influence happened during this period of Dominican history (Myers 72). As a result, the Dominican Republic became a country with one of the richest cultural and ethnic landscapes.
Political History
Since the country gained independence in 1844, its political development has continuously needed more stability. Numerous attempts to establish a stable government did not bring any results: the country often went through regime changes and suffered from dictatorships. It also became a target of foreign interventions, mostly by the hand of the United States during the 20th century. The first US intervention occurred in 1916 and lasted 8 years until 1924 (Rosario-Ureña 113). During this period, the United States established a military dictatorship in the country and made an attempt to modernize the republic’s infrastructure.
One of the darkest periods in the political history of the Dominican Republic began in 1930 when Rafael Trujillo, a military dictator, came to power through a military coup. The Trujillo rule lasted for over 30 years and was marked by continuous human rights abuses, repression, and violence. After Trujillo’s assassination in 1961, the country did not find political stability either. The country did not manage to establish a stable political regime, which led to a civil war breaking out in 1965 and being resolved with another US intervention.
The Dominican Republic began its democratic path in 1978 when the first democratic election was held, and the new administration started the implementation of fundamental reforms. Since then, the country has been moving in the direction towards a more democratic system. Nevertheless, historical events still affect the country up to this moment.
Conclusion
The history of the Dominican Republic is complex and rich in events. In economic terms, the country has been developing, relying on the agricultural sector, and under foreign influence. Industrialization began in the middle of the 20th century and placed more emphasis on the tourist sector. Socially, the Dominican Republic is a diverse nation, with colorism and racial discrimination being a constant in its history. Politically, the country lived through political instability, suffering from dictatorships, civil wars, regime changes, and foreign interventions. All these countries create a unique political and social historical landscape.
Works Cited
Myers, Megan Jeanette. Mapping Hispaniola: Third Space in Dominican and Haitian Literature. University of Virginia Press, 2019.
Na, Na. General History of the Caribbean UNESCO Volume 6: Methodology and Historiography of the Caribbean. Palgrave Macmillan US, 2019.
Rosario-Ureña, Carlos. Dominican Republic: Its History, Its Culture, and Its People. Amazon Digital Services LLC – Kdp, 2021.
Valdes, Vanessa K., editor. Racialized Visions: Haiti and the Hispanic Caribbean. State University of New York Press, 2020.