Haitian Rule & Independence (1795–1865)

The history now becomes complicated — and explains much about the current relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

French and Haitian Occupation

In 1795, Spain ceded the eastern part of the island to France in the Treaty of Basel. In 1801, the Haitian freedom fighter Toussaint Louverture marched into the east and briefly united the entire island. In 1804, Haiti declared its independence from France — the first successful slave revolution in history. The eastern part oscillated between Spanish, French, and Haitian control in the following years.

The Haitian Occupation (1822–1844)

In 1822, Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer annexed the entire eastern part. The 22-year Haitian rule brought the abolition of slavery (a positive legacy), but also the expropriation of church land, the closure of the university, and the forced adoption of French laws — measures that deeply embittered the Spanish-speaking population.

Independence (February 27, 1844)

On February 27, 1844, the secret movement La Trinitaria led by Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, and Ramón Matías Mella declared the independence of the Dominican Republic — not from Spain, but from Haiti. It is the only case in history where a country declared its independence from another formerly colonized country. Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella are the founding fathers (Padres de la Patria) — their remains rest in the mausoleum of Parque Independencia in Santo Domingo.

The February 27 is the most important holiday in the country (Día de la Independencia), celebrated with parades, music, and fireworks.