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Dominican Republic Gains Independence
Boyer overthrown; Santo Domingo declares its independence and becomes the Dominican Republic. -
United States and the Dominican Republic sign a treaty
Dominican Republic and US sign 50-year treaty according to which the US takes over the republic's customs department in return for buying its debts. -
Rafael Leonidas becomes Dictator
General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina establishes personal dictatorship following the overthrow of President Horacio Vazquez. -
Rafael's Army massacres thousands
Army massacres 19,000-20,000 Haitians living in areas of the Dominican Republic adjacent to Haiti. -
Dominican Republic establishes Democracy
Juan Bosch, founder of the leftist Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) elected president in the first democratic elections for nearly four decades. -
Bosch Overthrown, Dominican Republic returns to Dictatorship
Bosch deposed in military coup and replaced by a three-man civilian junta. -
DR once again overthrows Dictatorship and elects new President
Joaquin Balaguer, a Trujillo protege and former leader of the Reformist Party (later to become the centre-right Christian Social Reform Party (PRSC)), is elected president. -
Hurricanes destroy homes and businesses
Two hurricanes leave more than 200,0000 people homeless and cause damage worth 1 billion dollars as the economy continues to deteriorate due to high fuel prices and low sugar prices. -
Deadly protests lead to destruction
Deadly clashes between police and protesters during demonstrations against high prices, power cuts. Two months later, demonstrations about economic policies leave at least five dead. -
DR Enters the Acord
Congress approves a proposed free trade agreement with the US and Central American nations. The DR enters the accord in March 2007.