Dominican Republic History

The first inhabitants of the island are reconized.

1492 BCE

The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island into five chiefdoms and territories.

The first European inhabitants

1492

In 1492 Columbus sailed from Europe and settled on the island and claimed it on his first voyage.

Spain recognizes french dominion.

1697

In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti.

Dominican becomes an independent country.

1844

Gains independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844.

Gives up and then gains back independence.

1861

In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865.

Ruled by an dictator.

1930

A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930 to 1961.

Bosch becomes president.

1962

Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH.

Balaguer becomes president for the next thirty years.

1966

In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996.

A new president is elected.

2004

Former President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first term 1996-2000) won elected to a new term in 2004.

Last election.

2016

Danilo MEDINA Sanchez becomes president in 2016.