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The Espa�ola island was the first European colony of the New World in 1492 and in its capital Santo Domingo, called the First
City of America, the first colonial cultural and social institutions originated, the first forts, the first churches and the
first cathedral, the first hospital, first monuments and the first university were constructed.
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Until end of 16th century the Spanish island was the source of great benefits thanks to its mineral wealth and the system of
the sugar plantations. Nevertheless, the auriferous mines were exhausted, which caused a wave emigration that considerably
decreased the population of the colony. French buccaneers who used the island as a contraband bridge took advantage of this
circumstance and they took possession of the western part where they founded the colony of Saint Domingue, based on the
exploitation of plantations with African slaves.
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This change in the economic system represented a variation in the social panels of the island, which, fundamentally due to
the arrival of the slaves, produced a cultural fusion, that manifested immediately with the sprouting of different ethnic
groups: mulattos, sambas, Latino blacks, and the mixed bloods, predominant in Latin America to the present day.
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With the treaty of Ryswick in 1697, Spain tolerated France's occupation of the western part of the island.
Two nations are born sharing a same island, the western part colonized by the French, the Eastern part colonized by the
Spaniards.
The division of the island caused constant wars between the colonialist powers for the predominance or the control of the
island.
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Toussaint Louverture invaded in 1801 the Eastern part of the island, to which France responded in 1802 by sending Leclerc,
brother-in-law of Napole�n, in front of a powerful squad to demand the territory. The French governed Santo Domingo for a
period of six years until being expelled by a group of Dominicans who, under the command of Juan Sanchez Ramirez,
reincorporated the Eastern part to the domain of Spain.
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In 1822, after 12 years of relative tranquillity, Santo Domingo again was invaded by the Haitians, and it was not until
1844 that they were defeated by a group of patriotic Dominicans led by Juan Pablo Duarte, who proclaimed the independent
State of the Dominican Republic. Internal differences prevented the development of the governmental institutions and a new
annexation to Spain (1861-1863), caused what was called the War of the Restoration and the return to the Republic.
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Juan Pablo Duarte
Picture courtesy of
www.dominicana.com.do
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In 1916 and until 1924, troops of the North American infantry occupied the national territory, an occupation that returned
to repeat itself in 1965 under the false pretext that the military coup of the 24 of April of that year, that it tried to
replace to Juan Bosch like president, was communist. Bosch had gained the first democratic selection after the dictatorship
of Rafael L. Trujillo, who had lasted 31 years.
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In 1966 and until 1978 the democratic system was reinstated and the political stability manifested with elections that were
celebrated every four years:
- 1966-1978 governed Dr Joaqu�n Balaguer Ricardo, of the then Reformist Party, for three consecutive legislatures.
- 1978-1982 governed Don Antonio Guzm�n Fernandez, of the Dominican Revolutionary Party.
- 1982-1996 governed Dr. Salvador Jorge Blanco, of the Dominican Revolutionary Party
- 1986-1996 governed Dr. Joaquin Balaguer again, of the Social Christian Reformist Party, during two and a half legislatures,
due to the reform of the electoral system.
- And in 1996 to present Dr Leonel Fernandez Reyna is elected. With his 43 years, and a vision of a modern government,
President Leonel Fernandez has become a leader in the Caribbean, being a true promoter of investments and commerce.
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Antique 
