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region.
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean
island of HISPANIOLA, located between Cuba and Puerto Rico. Haiti occupies
the western third. Columbus landed on the island in 1492, and the earliest
Spanish colony in the Americas was established there. It has the oldest
university of the Americas and the highest peak in the caribbean islands.
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LAND AND PEOPLE
Hispaniola is a mountainous island, with the most important chain, the Cordillera
Central, extending across the western section of the Dominican Republic.
The highest and the lowest points in the whole Caribbean area lie within
a short distance of each other in the Dominican Republic. The highest point
is Duarte Peak, with an elevation of 3,174 m (10,417 ft); the lowest point
(45 m/148 ft below sea level) is found at Lake Enriquillo, only 85 km (50
mi) to the southwest. In the north, running parallel to the Atlantic, is
a fertile agricultural region known as the Cibao Valley, drained by the
North Yaque River. Santo Domingo he capital, largest city, and largest port,
is located on the southern coast. The tropical climate (average annual temperature,
25 deg C/77 deg F) is ameliorated at the higher altitudes and by the northeastern
trade winds. Rainfall averages from 762 mm (30 in) along the Haitian border
in the southwest to 2,540 mm (100 in) in the northeast.
The Dominican population is the result of nearly four centuries of mixing
of European and African elements. The original Indian inhabitants were either
absorbed or eliminated within the first 100 years of the Spanish conquest.
Haitians are the largest minority group. a great percent of the population
is Roman Catholic. Primary education is free and compulsory for all children
between 7 and 14 years of age. Almost 70% of the population is literate.
The country has five universities, including the Autonomous University of
Santo Domingo (UASD) (1538), the oldest university in the Americas.
ECONOMY
Agriculture is the traditional mainstay of the Dominican economy, with sugarcane
being the leading cash crop produced for export. Other important export
crops are cocoa and coffee. Nickel is the leading mineral export; bauxite,
gold, and rock salt are other significant mineral resources.
Although the government is attempting to expand industry, most industrial
products must be imported, largely from the United States. Tourism is challenging
agriculture as the more important economic sector.
HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
The island was inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians when Christopher Columbus
discovered it on December 5 in 1492. The native Indians had named the island
Quisqueya but Columbus changed its name to Hispaniola ("Little Spain").
Upon Columbus arrival, it became the site of the first Spanish settlements
in the New World. Columbus lived here for many years, and it is believed
that his remains are in the cathedral in Santo Domingo. Other New World
colonies proved more profitable to the Spanish, however, and Santo Domingo,
as the entire colony was called, was neglected. The French began to settle
the western end of Hispaniola. In 1697 the island was divided between France
(western side) and Spain (eastern side), and in 1795 the entire island came
under French rule when Spain ceded its Spanish part to France.
Haiti became an independent nation in 1804 when black slave rebelled, and
in 1809 the eastern part initiated the process to become part of Spain again.
this process was completed in 1821 and Santo Domingo became independent
from France; however, in 1822 the Haitians took over the eastern portion
of the island and ruled over it for 21 years. The Dominicans did not remain
inactive to this event. They launched the Trinitary secret society founded
by Juan Pablo Duarte, and with leadership help of Ramon Matias Mella and
Francisco del Rosario Sanchez the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of the east
rebelled against the Haitians and proclaimed their independence on February
27 in 1844, calling their nation the Dominican Republic.
The new nation experienced severe economic difficulties, and in 1905 the
United States established partial control of the Dominican economy to protect
American investors. Increasing debts and internal disorders resulted, in
1916, in the occupation of the country by U.S. Marines. In 1924 the occupation
ended. Rafael TRUJILLO came to power in 1930 and established a dictatorship
that lasted until his assassination in 1961. In December 1962 the first
free elections in nearly 40 years brought the leftist Juan BOSCH to the
presidency. His reform program led to his overthrow by the military in September
1963. When his supporters attempted to restore him to power in 1965, civil
war broke out, and U.S. troops were sent in to restore order and the status
quo. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER was elected president. His authoritarian
rule, supported by the right wing, continued until the election of 1978,
when he was defeated by Antonio Guzman, who, in turn, was defeated by Salvador
Jorge Blanco in 1982.
The Dominican economic decline was an ongoing issue in the 1986 and 1990
elections. Balaguer, elderly and blind, narrowly won fourth and fifth terms
as president. Ex-president Blanco was convicted in absentia of corruption
in 1988. In 1992 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Under the constitution of 1966 the government is headed by a president and
vice-president elected every four years by universal adult suffrage. The
bicameral National Congress comprises a 30-member senate and 120-member
chamber of deputies. Its members serve 4-year terms.
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Dominianic Republic.
Facts and Statistics About Dominican Republic
LAND
Area: 48,442 sq km (18,700 sq mi).
Capital city: Santo Domingo (1987 est. pop., 1,700,000).
Elevations: Highest--Duarte Peak, 3,174 m (10,417 ft);
Lowest--45 m (148 ft) below sea level (Lake Enriquillo).
PEOPLE
Population (1996 ): 8,115,892; density: 168 persons/km2 (434 per sq
mi).
Distribution (1990): 52% urban, 48% rural.
Annual growth (1992): 1.9%.
Official language: Spanish.
Major religions: Roman Catholicism, Protestant.
EDUCATION AND HEALTH
Literacy (1990): 83% of adult population.
Universities (1989): 8.
Hospital beds (1985): 6,511.
Physicians (1985): 3,056.
Life expectancy (1992): women--70; men--66.
Infant mortality (1992): 56 per 1,000 live births.
ECONOMY
GDP (1991 est.): $7 billion; $950 per capita.
Labor distribution (1986): agriculture--49%; services--33%; industry--18%.
Government leader (1996): Leonel Fernandez -president.
Major political parties:
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), moderate left-of-center;
Christian Social Reform Party (PRSC), independent socialist;
Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), nationalist.
Legislature: National Congress.
Political subdivisions: 29 provinces, 1 national district.
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads (1988): 1,655 km (1,028 mi) total.
Roads (1988): 5,800 km (3,604 mi) paved; 6,200 km (3,853 mi) unpaved.
Major ports: 4.
Major airfields: 2.
CHRONOLOGY
1844
Dominican Republic established
1930
Military coup established dictatorship of Gral. Rafael Leonidas Trujillo
Molina.
1961
Trujillo assassinated.
1962
First democratic elections resulted in Juan Bosch, founder of PRD,
becoming president.
1963
Bosch overthrown in military coup (eight month after being sworn into
president.)
1965
US Marines intervened to restore order and protect foreign nationals.
1966
New constitution adopted, Joaquin Balaguer, leader of the PRSC (was
Reform Party (PR) --before a party coalition that formed the PRSC).
1978
PRD returned to power, with Silvester Antonio Guzman as president.
1982
Guzman mysteriously found dead 40 days before his full term as president
leaving the country in the hands of vice-president Jacobo Majluta.
1982
PRD re-elected, with Jorge Blanco as president.
1985
Blanco forced by International Monetary Fund To adopt austerity measures
to save the economy.
1986
PRSC returned to power, with Balaguer re-elected president.
1990
PRSC re-elected with Balaguer as president.
1994
PRSC re-elected with Balaguer as president. The opposition party,
PRD, demanded a recount of votes claiming abnormalities in the count by
the Electoral Central Board (JCE). Recount yielded same favorably results
for the PRSC and Balaguer remained president.
1996
Leonel Fernandez (PLD) win the presidental election for a 4 year period
(30. June 1996)
Bibliography
Mathews, Thomas, "Dominican Republic." The New Grolier Multimedia
Encyclopedia r.6 (1993); "Dominican Republic." Webster New World
Encyclopedia (1992); "Dominicana, Republica." Diccionario Enciclopedico
Ilustrado Encas (1992).
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