History of the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is located in the island of Hispanola, and takes over most of it. Located next to Haiti, the DR was “founded” by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The next year Columbus returned and began to settle in the country and in 1496 his brother Bartholomew Columbus settled in Santo Domingo, what became, and still is, the capital of the Dominican Republic. In about 10 years the population which had started at around 400,000 had dwindled to about 50,000 and in the next 20 years, became only 6,000.
In the early 1800s, there was a 20-year time period in which Haiti occupied the DR. During that time whites weren’t allowed to own land. The Haitians also confiscated church properties as they had been slighted by the French Catholics and decided to associate all churches and religion with the terrible treatment given to them. In 1844, the DR had its first Constitution drafted, as it continually was updated until now.
In 1916, the DR was occupied by American Marines and after much disaster, withdrawl began in 1922. 1924 ended the US occupation. Today the country is liberated.
There are many Dominican communities all over the world today. Many in the US, including those in Miami, Boston, Rhode Island and over half of American Dominicans living in New York.
The Dominican Republic is a very unique country with an incredible amount of culture.