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Trujillo's Lifespan
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Trujillo Makes Himself A Candidate
After the president of the Dominican Republic at that time, Horacio Vasquez, was overthrown by a group of rebels for going against the constitution by extending his presidential term. Trujillo came after him and named himself a candidate in the elections for a new president. -
Trujillo Becomes President
Rafael Trujillo becomes president of the Dominican Republic by organizing a secret police force to torture and murder anyone who voted for his opponent. -
Hurricane on the Dominican Republic
There was a hurricane at Santo Domingo, the country's capital. Trujillo used the hurricane to force warlike law on all citizens. He put "emergency taxes" on people and seized the bank accounts who opposed him. He spent the next few years rebuilding the capital and putting up monuments to himself. He renamed Santo Domingo "Ciudad Trujillo." -
Haitans Killed
Rafael Trujillo orders that any Haitans in the Dominican Republic be killed -
Minerva Goes to Immaculada Concepcion- Chapter 2
Minerva attends Immaculada Concepcion though her father does not want any of his daughters leaving him. There she meets Sinita and learns that Trujillo has killed all of the men in Sinita's family. -
World War II Begins
Adolf Hitler invaded Poland in 1939 which began World War II. It was the most widespread and deadliest war in history. There were more than 30 countries involved and the war resulted in more than 50 million deaths. -
World War II
The Dominican Republic declares war on Japan, Germany, and Italy. -
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
Japan attacksAmerica by surprise at Pearl Harbor. This causes America to join World War II. -
Debt to the U.S.
Trujillo repays all debt due to the United States. -
Dede's Flashback- Chapter 1
The interviewer asks Dede to describe the happy moment she mentionsed and Dede begins describing to the interviewer her family and how her father told her her fortune but not any of the other sisters. -
Independence Day Performance for Trujillo- Chapter 2+
Minerva, Sinita, Elsa, and Lourdes all compete in a contest at their school on the Dominican Independence Day and when they win they are asked to perform for Trujillo on his birthday of October 24th. During the performance, Sinita tries to shoot Trujillo with a bow and arrow which Ramfis, Trujillo's son, breaks before she could harm him. They claim it was a part of the act. -
World War II Ends
Nazi Germany and Japan are defeated thus ending World War II. -
Maria Teresa's Diary- Chapter 3
Maria Teresa receives a diary from Minerva to write down her thoughts. She also begins to fear Trujillo rather than worship him because of Minerva telling her that it is not a free country. -
Patria Gets Married- Chapter 4
Patria gives up her desire to become a nun when she meets Pedrito and she marries him at 17. -
Death of Patria's Son/ Hilda- Chapter 3
Mate meets Hilda and does not like her. The police are looking for Hilda and the school helps hide her. Minerva graduates this month and the family buries Patria's dead newborn on July 20th. The police catch Hilda and the group that helped hide her had to destroy anything that would get them into trouble. Maria Teresa mentions Hilda in her diary so she must destroy it as well. -
Patria's Faith Restored- Chapter 4
Patria loses her faith in God and Trujillo after her baby is born dead but later her faith is restored when she is in the chapel in Higuey.Patria has Nelson and Noris as well. -
Virgilio Morales- Chapter 5
The girls meet Virgilio Morales and Dede is attracted to him but her sister and Lio seem to be attracted to eachother. During a volleyball game, Minerva and Lio get caught in the bushes and Jaimito gets angry and Jaimito and Lio fight. Dede's mother finds out about Lio being a Communist and forbids the girls to associate with him so they meet with him in secret. -
Jaimito Proposes- Chapter 5
Jaimito proposes to Dede in her father's car. Lio is hiding from the government and Dede and Jaimito find him in the back seat of the car when Jaimito proposes. -
Minerva Meets Carmen/ Finding Hidden Letters- Chapter 6
Minerva finds out about her father cheating on her mother with abother woman named Carmen. He had four daughters with this woman. When she is in his room she finds the letters from Lio in her father's jacket pocket and realizes that he hid them from her. Later on she crashes into her fathers car at Carmen's house and he slaps her afterwards. -
Trujillo's Party- Chapter 6
Minerva goes to the party and dances with Trujillo. He begins to be sexual and she slaps him. The Mirabal family leaves the party before Trujillo and realizes she forgot her purse which had Lio's letters. Her father is arrested and she is questioned and she admits to knowing Lio. Trujillo tells Minerva her father will be released if she has sex with him. Minerva refuses. Her father is released because Minerva wins when rolling a dice with Trujillo. -
Trujillo In Every Household
Trujillo orders every house in the Dominican Republic must have a gold plaque and picture of Trujillo that reads, “In this house, Trujillo is chief.” -
Korean War
Korean War begins by an invasion by the North Korean People's Army. This was also the first military act of the Cold War. In the end, about 5 million soldiers and people died.The Korean peninsula is still divided today because of this. -
Minerva's Marriage- Chapter 7
Papa is dead as of 1953. Minerva gets married to Manolo. -
Civil Rights Movement in America Begins
Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white rider sparking the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. -
State Security Secretariat Created
The State Security Secretariat is created for surveillance and control of the population. -
Maria Teresa's Marriage- Chapter 7
After a long time looking for a mate, Maria Teresa meets Leandro while he is delivering ammunition for the regime. Mate joins the group against Trujillo and marries Leandro on February 14th. -
Patria Pregnant/ Minerva Gives Child to Patria- Chapter 8
Patria finds out she is pregnant and decides to name the boy Raul Ernesto. Minerva gives her child to Patria to take care of while she helps with the resistance. -
Bombing At The Church- Chapter 8
While Patria is at a church retreat, the church is bombed and she sees a little boy killed. She is very upset. She joins her sisters and the resistance. Her husband does not approve at first but later joins. -
Dede and Jaimito- Chapter 9
Dede and Jaimito have marriage problems that almost tear their family apart and are later resolved when they go on a second honeymoon. -
The SIM- Chapter 9
Leandro, Nelson, Pedrito,and Manolo are arrested by the SIM. Minerva gets tuberculosis. Maria Teresa is arrested and then Minerva is as well. -
Patria Deals With Arrests- Chapter 10
Patria tries to deal with the arrests of her family members and begins to pray to Trujillo so that he would let hr family go.The churches are violated by the SIM and Patria, Dede, Noris, and Mama clean the churches. -
Nelson Released- Chapter 10
Trujillo lets Nelson go and Patria drops to her knees in thankfulness to God. She ends up on the front cover of the newspaper looking as if she were thanking Trujillo -
Maria Teresa Pregnant- Chapter 11
Mate is very sick and she finds out she is pregnant. She plans to abort the baby so SIM cannot take it. She loses the baby because of what SIM does to her which is not mentioned. No one knows where Leandro is until later in the chapter. Minerva gets solitary and is oftn questioned by the police. -
SIM and the Baby- Chapter 11
Minerva keeps asking what SIM did to Mate. She reads Mate's letter and wants her to send it to OAS. Mate is selected to be interviewed by OAS and Minrva wants her to tell them everything. Maria Teresa and Minerva are to be released the next day. -
Mirabal Sisters Murdered
Government agents ordered by Trujillo murder Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal. -
Trujillo Assasinated
Trujillo was killed by a group of rebels. -
Dede's Interview- Chapter 1
Dede waits for the interviewer and when she arrives she gives a tour of the house and begins telling the interviewer the story of the 4 sisters.
