Throughout history the Dominican Republic has gone through many political conflicts, even till today, in this paper we will focus on the political conflict that happened from 1910-1924 and why the united states enclosed DR in debt. I will use my knowledge of the situation as explained by the assigned book in class to speak on some political conflict that occurred at the time. I will also further my knowledge and answer the question using an article found online. This research will explain in great detail the events that took place and it will help me answer ‘why did the Us enclose Dr in debt’.
Before 1916, events had taken place leading to the first occupation of the Dominican Republic. The assassination of the president (Ramon Caceres) took place. Once this happened a civil war had started, this had taken place in 1911. According to the book “The Dominican Racial Imaginary” by Milagros Ricourt, Ricourt states “In 1912, under the auspices of the US president William Howard Taft, a modus vivendi arrangement stipulated a de facto border until the dispute could be resolved. Then, in 1915, the United States occupied Haiti and, a year later, the Dominican Republic. Although both negotiations while under the US control, successful border discussions did not occur until 1929” (789). All this mentioned by the author had then led up to 1916, where a new president was elected and the first occupation of DR took place.
The first occupation of the Dominican Republic went on from 1916-1924. This was to modernize the country side. In May 1916 William Caperton had forced Desiderio Aria who was a secretary of war, to leave Santo Domingo. An invasion took place on May 5, 1916. According to an article titled “ United States Occupation of The Dominican Republic (1916-1924)” The author states “The first Landing took place on May 5, 1916 when two companies of marines landed from the Uss Prairie at Santo Domingo. Their goal was to offer protection to the U.S. Legation and the U.S. Consulate, and to occupy the Fort San Geronimo” (28-32). Santo Domingo had been occupied by Capertons forces on May 15, 1916. The country had been taken under control three days after Arias fled the country. In the beginning of the occupation the budget of the country was fair. Order was restored throughout the country as claimed by the marines. The debt of the country had become less, there was a decrease. The economic growth was now directed at the U.S. According to the same article the author states “Most Dominicans, however, greatly resented the loss of their Sovereignty to foreigners, few to whom spoke spanish or displayed much real concern for the welfare of the republic— Having knowledge of the local terrain they fought from 1917-1921 against the United States occupation” (67-73). This fight in countryside had led to the surrender of the guerrillas.
In the book read in class titled “The Dominican Racial Imaginary” by Milagros Ricourt the author focuses on an important event that took place at the time which relates to the previous article. The author goes more in depth of the events along with additional information from the time. Ricourt states “This made Oliborio the target of a campaign to destroy him and his movement, and although he was killed in 1922 by the US-led forces, to his followers he did not die, and they awaited his reincarnation in bodily form” (2375). This gave more detail relating to the same event but a year after the fight. In Dominican Republic located in the southwestern area, a religious movement was started, this had attracted thousands of followers, and the movement was known as ‘Liborismo’.
In conclusion, from 1910- 1924 a lot of political conflict rose regarding the Dominican Republic and the US. The political conflict played a huge role on the United States enclosing Dominican Republic's debt, I was able to use the book from class and an article to prove the information given in this paper, I was also able to go in detail with the events that occurred around in the time but further focus it on 1916-1924, I was mainly able to give background information that took place in 1910-1915 to help understand the events that followed by using the book as a brief summarization of what happened in that time.