History UsefulNotes / DominicanRepublic

After the Trujillo era, the country still had its time of military government, but now it’s a democracy. However, the constant turmoil of its history has left its marks in the form of corruption, unemployment and problems with the electric distribution network. Also, the relations with Haiti keep being lukewarm at best (the continuing immigration of Haitians doesn’t help either). The country is well-known for its telecommunication system, however.

* '''Highest point:''' Pico Duarte (3098 m/10,164 ft) (61st)

Since UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus arrived on the island on 1492, the island has been constantly changing hands between all kinds of power. It started as a Spanish colony until the end of the 18th century, when it became a French colony. After the success of the [[UsefulNotes/{{Haiti}} Haitian Revolution]] in 1804 drove the French out of western Hispaniola, the French managed to hold onto the eastern part of the island, before the Spanish drove the French out altogether in 1808. The Dominicans experienced a period of relative autonomy, due to the decline of the Spanish Empire after the Napoleonic Wars, before being invaded by neighboring Haiti in 1822. Initially popular, by 1844 the Dominicans became disillusioned by Haitian rule and successfully revolted, but in a curious turn of events, in 1861 they asked Spain to be taken as a colony ''again''. The move was highly unpopular and resulted in a civil war which resulted in the Spanish leaving ''again''. A series of events after that ended with an invasion of the United States in 1916 that lasted until 1922.

Since UsefulNotes/ChristopherColumbus arrived on the island on 1492, the island has been constantly changing hands between all kinds of power. It started as a Spanish colony until the end of the 18th century, when it became a French colony. During Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, the country enjoyed a brief period of independence before being invaded by UsefulNotes/{{Haiti}}. In 1844 it became independent again, but in a curious turn of events, less than twenty years later they asked Spain to be taken as a colony ''again''. A series of events after that ended with an invasion of the United States in 1916 that lasted until 1922.

If you thought the situation was bad, you can believe things went worse. [[AxCrazy Rafael Trujillo]], generally considered as one of the worst dictators of Latin America, assumed power in 1930, [[{{Egopolis}} indulging in a cult of personality worthy of Stalin or Saddam Hussein]]. He stole almost all the money from international aid, ordered the killings of all kinds of opponents and the Haitians living on the Dominican side of the frontier and also waged other bizarre, crazy acts, like an assassination attempt on the Venezuelan president. He maintained himself and his loyal puppets in power and ensured the country would be ruled with an iron fist. His detractors started to compare him with a rabid dog until the U.S., initially their supporters, got alienated enough to order a CIA plot to kill him in 1961. This was followed by a US invasion and occupation in from 1965 to 1966.

* '''Highest point:''' Pico Duarte (3098 m/10,164 ft) (80th)

* '''Country calling code:''' [[UsefulNotes/NorthAmericanNumberingPlan 1]] (area codes 809, 829, and 849)

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' DO

* '''Area:''' 48,671 sq km (18,792 sq mi) (128th)

[[AC:The Dominican Republic flag]]
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dominican_republic_flag_596.png
->The flag shows red and blue quarters divided by a white cross, designed by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Trinitaria La Trinitaria]], the country's anti-Haitian LaResistance [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin led by three men]]. Red, blue and white symbolize sacrifice, liberty and salvation, respectively. At the center is the coat-of-arms, depicting a shield in the national colors, before which are six flags flanking Literature/TheBible, supposedly opened at John 8:32, which reads "And the truth shall make you free". Supporting the arms are laurel and palm leaves. Above the shield is a scroll with La Trinitaria's keyword "Dios, Patria, Libertad" ("God, Country, Freedom"), and below is the country's name in Spanish.

* '''Area:''' 48,671 sq km (18,792 sq mi) (174th)

->The flag shows red and blue quarters divided by a white cross, designed by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Trinitaria La Trinitaria]], the country's anti-Haitian LaResistance [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin led by three men]]. Red, blue and white symbolize sacrifice, liberty and salvation, respectively. At the center is the coat-of-arms, depicting a shield in the national colors, before which are six flags flanking Literature/TheBible, supposedly opened at John 8:32, which reads "And the truth shall make you free". Supporting the arms are laurel and palm leaves. Above the shield is a scroll with La Trinitaria's keyword "Dios, Patria, Libertad" ("God, Country, Freedom"), and below is the country's name in Spanish.

Don't confuse the country with the (arguably) less well-known UsefulNotes/{{Dominica}}, which is also a sovereign country located in the Caribbean, but is a part of the Lesser Antilles instead of the Greater Antilles in which the DR belong (the former encompasses all those small islands scattered to the north of Venezuela, while the latter includes the "larger" countries including DR, Cuba, Haiti, and the US territory Puerto Rico). It's not helped by the fact that Dominica also has the same cross symbol in its flag, though colored green, or the fact that the demonyms of both countries are "Dominicans" in English.

Don't confuse the country with the (arguably) less well-known Dominica, which is also a sovereign country located in the Caribbean, but is a part of the Lesser Antilles instead of the Greater Antilles in which the DR belong (the former encompasses all those small islands scattered to the north of Venezuela, while the latter includes the "larger" countries including DR, Cuba, Haiti, and the US territory Puerto Rico). It's not helped by the fact that Dominica also has the same cross symbol in its flag, though colored green, or the fact that the demonyms of both countries are "Dominicans" in English.

[[AC:The Dominican flag]]

Since ChristopherColumbus arrived on the island on 1492, the island has been constantly changing hands between all kinds of power. It started as a Spanish colony until the end of the 18th century, when it became a French colony. During Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, the country enjoyed a brief period of independence before being invaded by UsefulNotes/{{Haiti}}. In 1844 it became independent again, but in a curious turn of events, less than twenty years later they asked Spain to be taken as a colony ''again''. A series of events after that ended with an invasion of the United States in 1916 that lasted until 1922.

* Carla from ''{{Scrubs}}'' is Dominican.
* ''TheSerpentAndTheRainbow'' supposedly takes place in Haiti, but the filming [[CaliforniaDoubling was moved to the Dominican Republic]].

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dr-map_1049.gif

Since ChristopherColumbus arrived on the island on 1492, the island has been constantly changing hands between all kinds of power. It started as a Spanish colony until the end of the 18th century, when it became a French colony. During Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, the country enjoyed a brief period of independence before being invaded by Haiti. In 1844 it became independent again, but in a curious turn of events, less than twenty years later they asked Spain to be taken as a colony ''again''. A series of events after that ended with an invasion of the United States in 1916 that lasted until 1922.

* Carla from ''{{Scrubs}}'' is from the Dominican Republic.

->The flag shows red and blue quarters divided by a white cross, designed by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Trinitaria La Trinitaria]], the country's anti-Haitian LaResistance [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin led by three men]]. Red, blue and white symbolize sacrifice, liberty and salvation, respectively. At the center is the coat-of-arms, depicting a shield in the national colors, before which are six flags flanking TheBible, supposedly opened at John 8:32, which reads "And the truth shall make you free". Supporting the arms are laurel and palm leaves. Above the shield is a scroll with La Trinitaria's keyword "Dios, Patria, Libertad" ("God, Country, Freedom"), and below is the country's name in Spanish.

* ''TheBriefWondrousLifeOfOscarWao''

* ''TheFeastOfTheGoat'' by Mario Vargas Llosa is set during the late parts of the infamous dictatorship era under Rafael Trujillo's government.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/125px-Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic_svg_4805.png

If you thought the situation was bad, you can believe ItGotWorse. [[AxCrazy Rafael Trujillo]], generally considered as one of the worst dictators of Latin America, assumed power in 1930, [[{{Egopolis}} indulging in a cult of personality worthy of Stalin or Saddam Hussein]]. He stole almost all the money from international aid, ordered the killings of all kinds of opponents and the Haitians living on the Dominican side of the frontier and also waged other bizarre, crazy acts, like an assassination attempt on the Venezuelan president. He maintained himself and his loyal puppets in power and ensured the country would be ruled with an iron fist. His detractors started to compare him with a rabid dog until the U.S., initially their supporters, got alienated enough to order a CIA plot to kill him in 1961. This was followed by a US invasion and occupation in from 1965 to 1966.

If you thought the situation was bad, you can believe ItGotWorse. [[AxCrazy Rafael Trujillo]], generally considered as one of the worst dictators of Latin America, assumed power in 1930, [[{{Egopolis}} indulging in a cult of personality worthy of Stalin or Sadaam Hussein]]. He stole almost all the money from international aid, ordered the killings of all kinds of opponents and the Haitians living on the Dominican side of the frontier and also waged other bizarre, crazy acts, like an assassination attempt on the Venezuelan president. He maintained himself and his loyal puppets in power and ensured the country would be ruled with an iron fist. His detractors started to compare him with a rabid dog until the U.S., initially their supporters, got alienated enough to order a CIA plot to kill him in 1961. This was followed by a US invasion and occupation in from 1965 to 1966.

If you thought the situation was bad, you can believe ItGotWorse. [[AxCrazy Rafael Trujillo]], generally considered as one of the worst dictators of Latin America, assumed power in 1930, [[{{Egopolis}} indulging in a cult of personality worthy of Stalin or Sadaam Hussein]]. He stole almost all the money from international aid, ordered the killings of all kinds of opponents and the Haitians living on the Dominican side of the frontier and also waged other bizarre, crazy acts, like an assassination attempt on the Venezuelan president. He maintained himself and his loyal puppets in power and ensured the country would be ruled with an iron fist. His detractors started to compare him with a rabid dog until the U.S., initially their supporters, got alienated enough to order a CIA plot to kill him in 1961.

* The book ''In The Time of the Butterflies'' is based on the assassination of the Mirabal sisters by Trujillo’s government.

* ''TheFeastOfTheGoat'' by Mario Vargas Llosa.

If you thought the situation was bad, you can believe ItGotWorse. In 1930 assumed power [[AxCrazy Rafael Trujillo]], generally considered as one of the worst dictators of Latin America, [[{{Egopolis}} indulging in a cult of personality worthy of Stalin or Sadaam Hussein]], stole almost all the money from international aid, the killing of all kinds of opponents and the Haitians living on the Dominican side of the frontier and other bizarre, crazy acts, like an assassination attempt on the Venezuelan president. He maintained himself or loyal puppets of him in power and ensuring the country would be ruled with an iron fist. His detractors started to compare him with a rabid dog until the U.S., initially their supporters, got alienated enough to order a CIA plot to kill him in 1961.

After the Trujillo era, the country still had its time of military government, but now it’s a democracy. However, the constant turmoil of its history has left its marks in the form of corruption, unemployment and electrical problems. Also, the relations with Haiti keep being lukewarm at best (the continuing immigration of Haitians doesn’t help either). The country is well-known for its telecommunication system, however.

!Dominican Republic in fiction:

* Carla from ''{{Scrubs}}'' is from Dominican Republic.
* ''TheSerpentAndTheRainbow'' supposedly takes place in Haiti, but the filming [[CaliforniaDoubling was moved to Dominican Republic]].