An analysis of Rafael Trujillo's exercising of military power and economic monopoly in the Dominican Republic combined with United States compliance to the proliferation of dictatorship from 1930 until 1961.
Abstract This paper first provides a brief history of U.S. relations with the Dominican Republic (1869-1930) and the establishment of the Dominican National Guard by the United States. It examines the U.S. endorsement of Trujillo and Trujillo's subsequent military rise and the election of 1930. The structure and impact of the Dominican Army is analyzed along with the Dominican economy and American investments and Trujillo's economic monopoly.
From the Paper "From 1930 until 1961, a ruthless dictator named Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina ruled the Dominican Republic. As a result of his actions as dictator, Trujillo can be accurately described as an ambitious, corrupt, intelligent megalomaniac. In order to maintain absolute control for thirty-one years, Trujillo ran his administration with efficiency and expediency. Trujillo ascended to power in the Dominican Republic through military accomplishment in the Dominican National Guard, an army established by the United States in 1916, during Marine occupation. Throughout Trujillo's dictatorship, the United States continued as a willing participant, both diplomatically and politically. Once securely in a position of power, Trujillo used several tactics in order to maintain his status until his rule as dictator ended with his assassination in 1961. These tactics included the establishment of a single-party state, forced intellectual and educational conformity, and the regular use of a secret police. However, of all the tactics used by the dictator himself, the most effective means of control were his use of both ruthless military power and economic monopoly on the domestic population. Trujillo's methods of gaining and retaining absolute power in the Dominican Republic, coupled with United States influence during his regime, resulted in the proliferation of his dictatorship from 1930 until 1961."
Abstract This paper describes a chain of events from the establishment of the Dominican Republic that would, over the space of the next five centuries, work to shape the political, societal and economic face of this Caribbean country. It describes the continuing conflict between the powers of Spain and France and the history of instability in politics as well as in society and economy. The paper gives an overview of the economic situation, the societal culture as well as an outlook for the future. It concludes that today, when international interference has subsided, the Dominican Republic will be able to progress and develop.
From the Paper "The thought of Christopher Columbus' first voyage of discovery in the late fifteenth century leads most of us to mentally envision the coast of North America and what has since come to be known as the country of the United States. When Columbus first sailed the ocean blue in the year 1492, however, he discovered a host of other uncharted territories, among them an island made up of mountainous terrain and rolling, fertile valley situated between the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean that he called La Isla Espanola, or Hispaniola (Weil et al PG). Preliminary interaction with the native Taino, or Arawak, Indians led Columbus to immediately claim the territory in the name of Spain and to make subsequent attempts at settlement and excavation over the next few years. Settlement was finally established in the southern region of the island, in what is now known as the city of Santo Domingo, the largest city within and capital of the independent country currently known as the Dominican Republic (Weil et al PG)."
Tags:Dominican, Republic, Spain, France, culture, politics, society, economy
Abstract The following paper looks at the combined elements of chaotic transition and developmental diversification that have traditionally hovered over the Dominican Republic . The author explores the continuing influence and effect that have resulted from the merging of these divergent factors.
From the Paper "The same white beaches and blue waters that drew Columbus to discover the shores of the Dominican Republic some five hundred years ago continue to draw the interest and attention of modern researchers and writers. In recent years, a wealth of information has been studied and published regarding the various factors that have historically shaped the political, societal and economic cultures of this Caribbean country as well as the forces and influences that continue to affect it today."
Abstract The paper discusses how diplomatic relations between the United States and the Dominican Republic have been characterized in recent decades by economic cooperation, mutual trust and bilateral good will. The paper explains that because of geographical proximity, geopolitical realities and economic ties, the Dominican Republic has a close relationship with the United States, for successive American administrations have had a strong interest in supporting the development of a democratic, stable and economically healthy Dominican Republic and Dominican leaders have welcomed American support.
Abstract This paper begins by discussing the reasons for the recent increase in Dominicans searching refuge in the United States by examining political and socio-economic reasons for migration. It then looks at a history of this immigration trend and discusses the profile of the Dominican population within the U.S. It discusses their racial background, education, social and economic statures, religion and culture. It looks at the future prospects for this community and whether their migration has assisted Dominicans left behind. Includes graphs and tables.
From the Paper "In the 1960's and early 1970s, the Dominicans who traveled to the United States were mostly political refugees. Uncertain economic and political conditions prevailing in Haiti and Cuba in the 1980s and 1990s became the cause of waves of migration into the United States from these two nations, and the immigrants often used desperate means to get to their destination. Dominicans are the largest group of immigrants coming from any one Latin American or Caribbean country in three New England States ? Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. "
Abstract This paper examines how the relationship between the Dominican Republic and the United States between the historical period of 1960 and 2000 was long-standing, sometimes mutually symbiotic, but more often than not, was sycophantic in nature on the part of the Dominican Republic and imperialistic on the part of the United States. This paper is concerned with the presentation of how the relationship between the two countries has evolved throughout the centuries and whether it has been for the better or for the worse.
Outline
The U.S. Role
The Dominican Republic Role
From the Paper "President Ulysses S. Grant's appeal for the Annexation of Dominican Republic is without a doubt, one of the most important documents in the history of the bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. It explains the position of the American President regarding the commercial viability of the Dominican Republic that the nascent empire looked to gain if able to annex this territory. This request to the Congress was delivered at a time when the Dominican Republic had just become an independent republic. With significant eloquence, Grant's address to the Congress responds to the question of why the U.S. should annex the Dominican Republic. This appeal was followed in December of 1870 by Charles Sumner's speech, who gave a rousing monologue on the Senate floor against the proposed annexation of the Dominican Republic."
Abstract In this article, the writer examines the injustice and suffering in the Dominican Republic, which is demonstrated in Edwidge Danticat's novel 'The Farming of Bones'. The writer notes that by writing her brilliant story, Danticat remembers this farming of human bones. The writer points out that the story is set in a terrible time during the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, where race, discrimination and politics are among its theme. Further the writer describes that the author illustrates a novel in which history and fiction are connected in a persuasive way to learn and critique the regime of Trujillo. The writer concludes by noting that discrimination and apprehension continue between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where culture and beliefs are diverse in countries that share the same land.
From the Paper "Edwidge Danticat concentrates in the history of Haitians cane workers, and the massacre of them in the Dominican Republic. Due to a growing xenophobia under the rule of Generalissimo Trujillo, the Dominicans were told to purify the country. Trujillo clandestinely arranged the massacre of hundreds of immigrants in the Dominican Republic most of them sugarcane workers from Haiti, the country with which the Dominican Republic shares the island named "Hispaniola". In Trujillo's approach, the Haitians immigrants, whom he considered them inferior people, because of their color of skin had simply become too abundant in the country. Thus, a wave of genocide which annihilates the Haitian population is justified."
Abstract This paper discusses a period (1844-1864) in the history of the Dominican Republic during a period when the country gained independence; suffered through corrupt, ruthless leadership; experienced several revolutions; repelled repeated invasions from Haiti and became a Spanish protectorate. This paper states that the pattern of rule by caudillos, or military strongmen, such Pedro Santana and Buenaventura Baez, was established during these years. The author believes that it is unfortunate that the Dominican Republic never got the kind of government and leaders that it needed during this period and, in many ways, is still suffering today from the effects of these early years.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Independence and the Establishment of a Government
Santana's First Term
The Accession of Baez
Alternating Regimes
Spanish Annexation
Conclusion
From the Paper "In 1844, a group known as La Trinitaria, co-founded by a young idealist named Juan Pablo Duarte, decided to bring their plan for establishing the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti to fruition. Aided by a wealthy rancher, Pedro Santana and his cowboys, the group seized Santo Domingo and its fortress on 27 February 1844. Other key conspirators were Tomas Bobadilla and Ramon Mella. A junta was formed, and Bobadilla was made president. Manuel Jimenes, a Trinitarian was made vice president."
Abstract This paper discusses the Dominican Republic located in the Caribbean, on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti. It provides basic facts and figures about the country and looks at the factors that effect day to day society and living as well as the effects of globalization.
Outline
Demographic Profile
Unique Cultural Features of Society in the Dominican Republic
Major Economic and Political Developments
A Major Change in the DR's Society
From the Paper "The Dominican Republic was once ruled by Spain. However, in 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which subsequently became Haiti. The remainder of the island, which is known as Santo Domingo, tried to gain independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for two decades. In 1844, this potion of the land acquired independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. For more than a century, the Dominican Republic was largely unsettled and unrepresentative. However, in 1966, when Joaquin Balaguer became president, the rule of the country changed. Balaguer was in power for three decades until international reaction to flawed elections ended his reign. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held to elect the president. As a result of this improved political structure, the DR economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the area."
Abstract This paper examines the political history of the Dominican Republic from the early 1800s to present day. It looks at the various leaders and their impact on the country's development and political stability. The paper concludes that the country's development has been very unstable and has thus been kept from economical development. The writer believes that the Dominican Republic has a long road ahead with creating a developed state, but with all the great international support there is hope for its future.
From the Paper "Most of the Dominican Community see Spain as "la Madre Patria" (the Motherland), this bring somewhat of a euphoric connection to the country causing a movement to migrate to Spain. There has been an alternative movement towards migrating to Spain because of the language similarities and visa exemptions toward Dominican Republic until 1985. An option to migrate to a Western European State such as Spain was an alternative to those who did not have family or other contacts in New York or the United States. The break down of Dominican migrants' population group: most migrants are female; most come from small villages of the Dominican Republic and have little or no formal education. When these groups journey to Spain, they come across being very isolated from the community and do not integrate with the Spaniard community. Xenophobic Spaniards exist within Madrid where most of the population views color of their skin, and difference of culture as a huge problem (New North African Immigration to Spain). The Embassy of the Dominican Republic official count of migrants reach towards 5,000 nationals, in an unofficial report they state that as many as 15,000 undocumented migrants live within the state (Dominican Migration). Dominican Immigrants mostly make up a part of the informal Market because in most cases those who migrate do it for Economic Prosperity. The two groups work in different ways when dealing with migrating to the U.S. and Spain, the Dominicans mostly women, tend to stay for a short period of time in the domestic house maid work for several months then leave back to the D.R. and open up a business in their home town village and men who migrate at a more limited bases for construction (Forging an Immigration Policy). In the late 19th Century to the early 20th Century the U.S. had a policy placed by Congress to apply for a visa that required a literacy requirements, and which also had a classification process in which the "undesirables" "from immigration were prevented from coming in such as convicts, lunatics, alcoholics, vagrants, and anarchists, among others." These policies were made to move cultures that were more likely to assimilate in the English language and mach the white American Anglo Saxon complexion and this did not favor Dominicans (Immigration Policy)."
Abstract This paper discusses the causes of poverty in the Dominican Republic. It specifically looks at the impact of international debt. The paper traces the effect that the debt has on poverty and development in the nation and the impact that this has on the choices available to its citizens. It finally looks at what strategies could be implemented to improve the situation in the Dominican Republic.
From the Paper "In order to improve the lives of the people of the Dominican Republic who are suffering under the burden of poverty, it is crucial that the country expand access to critical social services, especially to the rural poor. Doing so, though, will be difficult considering the significant weight of national debt that the country currently bears. With so much of the national GDP focused on the debt, allocating more funds for social services is an unlikely proposition, especially since the general opinion is that only more economic growth will reduce poverty. However, given the positive correlations between poverty and lack of access to social services, it seems evident that expansion of these services, like education and healthcare will improve the situation."
Abstract Examines the lack of education leading to low wage jobs, the problem of language barriers and little assistance from the city, the growing number of Dominican entrepreneurs and bodega owners, and the lack of educational opportunities.
From the Paper "Census figures of Dominican immigration to NYC
decade of the 1990s saw 145,000 new arrivals
New York City Dominican population now 500,000
NYC has more Less English proficient population than any other US ..."
Abstract This paper discusses Juan Bosch, a leader who played a central role in shaping the modern Dominican Republic, a teacher of politics to generations and a prolific writer of works of fiction, history and politics, who was known for his humanism and as an advocate of democracy. The author points out that Bosch got deeply involved in Cuban politics and even became personal secretary to President Carlos Prio Socarras, which led to his having to flee Cuba in 1952 when Fulgencio Batista overthrew Prio. The paper stresses that Juan Bosch was first and foremost a humanist, who was interested in all aspects of human interest and welfare as clearly reflected in his writings that did not merely dwell on the miserable plight of the rural poor but also reflected on the materialism and hypocrisy of the upper classes.
Table of Contents
Childhood Influences
Early Adulthood
Years in Exile
Juan Bosch, the Writer
Juan Bosch, the Political Leader
From the Paper "Yet, Bosch suffered the perception that he had pro-communist leanings at several points in time. In fact, he was even jailed in Cuba in July 1952, with Communist leaders. In jail, the communists tried to get him to work on behalf of the Guatemalan regime, but he told them "he was an anti-communist out of conviction...and that therefore he could not be bought." This incidence is very revealing in so much that it proves that Juan Bosch was a person with integrity and had the courage of his convictions. More important, it reveals that while Bosch may have been concerned with the problems of the rural class and working poor, he did not believe that communism could solve their problems. On the contrary, he was a firm believer in democratic principles, which is reflected very clearly in his writings as well as in the decisions he took during his long political career."
Abstract This paper examines cases studies of Puerto Rican and Dominican migrant women, and how their cultural identity is maintained or changed through various expressions, paying particular attention to the way migration and culture effect gender and vice versa.
From the Paper "While biological differences between the sexes are apparent, most academics agree that gender is socially constructed. Most fields of study concur that gender roles are determined by the society in which they are created. The field of migration studies has been integral in exposing the ways in which these roles are transformed and molded when migrants move from one society to the next. Hasia Diner, in her lecture at Montclair State University points out that merely asking "how does gender impact migration, and how does migration impact gender" (Hasia Diner lecture 3/29) has lead to fascinating discoveries in the formation and recreation of gender roles amongst migrants. Ginetta Candelario's article "Hair Race-ing Dominican Beauty Culture and Identity Production", and Elizabeth Crespo's "Puerto Rican Migration and Changes in Gender Roles" both explore the ways in which migration has impacted Dominican and Puerto Rican (respectively) female immigrants. Through the examination of the relationship between gender and identity, both writers expose the ways culture and race help to reinforce, complicate, or change gender roles when women arrive in their destination country."
Abstract The paper portrays how Julia Alvarez's novel, "In the Time of the Butterflies," employs brilliant descriptions to depict the severe reality that Trujillo's regime imposed on the Dominican Republic from the 1930s to the 1960s. The paper illustrates how Julia Alvarez humanizes the story of violence and injustice in the Dominican Republic and opens doors into the souls of the Mirabal sisters. The paper highlights how Alvarez stresses the need to see the Mirabal sister personalities as leaders of revolution, as people who fight their own fears to fight injustice in the Dominican Republic.
From the Paper "Of all the Mirabal sisters, Minerva is by far the most confrontational. Minerva has no fear and stands up to anyone, no matter what his or her position of power is, in this case Trujillo's regime. She is the one most identified with the resistance against Trujillo because of her beauty, her public rebellions, her conspicuous intelligence, and her leadership in the underground movement. Alvarez exhibits these same attributes in her Minerva, especially her vehement, outspoken hatred of injustice in any form. Often Minerva's rash actions are a problem to her goal to end the dictatorship of Trujillo."
