timeline

  • Overthrow led by Horacio Vasquez -- replaced the president.

    Overthrow led by Horacio Vasquez -- replaced the president.

    Horacio Vásquez helped get rid of President Ulises Heureaux, who had become a dictator and controlled the country in a harsh way. After Heureaux was killed, Vásquez then became president and was seen as a more fair leader.
  • Jose Reyes dies

    José Reyes was a Dominican leader who was president for a short time in 1866. When he died in 1905, it demonstrated that the older leaders from the early years of the country were no longer part of politics.
  • Ramon Caceres gets killed

    Ramon Caceres gets killed

    Ramón Cáceres was the president of the Dominican Republic, and he was shot and killed in 1911 by men who were angry about the choices he made in the government. His death caused the country to become unstable again, and many groups started fighting for power.
  • 1st United States military occupation

    1st United States military occupation

    The United States started controlling the Dominican Republic in 1916 and sent in U.S Marines in order to run the government.
  • U.S. troops leave after constitutional government reestablished

    U.S. troops leave after constitutional government reestablished

    The United States finally took their troops out the Dominican Republic once a new government was chosen through the elections.
  • Truijillo orders to kill about 13-20,000 haitians living near the border.

    Truijillo orders to kill about 13-20,000 haitians living near the border.

    Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo told the army to kill thousands of Haitians living near the border, and an estimated 13,000 to 20,000 people were killed. This event is remembered as the Parsley Massacre and caused a lot of fear and tension between the two countries.
  • Truijillo assasinated

    Truijillo assasinated

    Rafael Trujillo, the dictator of the Dominican Republic, was killed by people who wanted to stop his tough rule. His death ended over 30 years of dictatorship and allowed the country to move towards democracy.
  • Juan Bosch elected president for the first democratic elections

    Juan Bosch elected president for the first democratic elections

    Juan Bosch, leader of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, became president in 1963. His election was the first real democratic government in the Dominican Republic after many years of dictators.
  • Bosch deposed in military coup

    Bosch deposed in military coup

    The army removed Juan Bosch from being president. A three-person civilian government, called a junta, took over after him.
  • US troops invade Dominican Republic to get Bosch back

    US troops invade Dominican Republic to get Bosch back

    30,000 U.S. soldiers went into the Dominican Republic after people tried to bring Juan Bosch back to power. The U.S. wanted to stop the fighting and keep the country from becoming unstable.