Figure 1.--Here we see U.S. Marines, probably in Santo Dominfo, at the beginning of the American intervention. President Wilson was concerned about the security of the Canal. He dispated the Marines to maintain order. The Marines landed (May 16, 1916). Within 2 months they controlled the country. The Marines set up a Military Government (MG) overseen by Rear Admiral Harry Shepard Knapp. The U.S. action was widely criticized by Dominicans politicans. Political factions attempted to organize guerrilla campaigns with very limited succes. The miliitary government maintained most Dominican laws and institutions and managed to pacify the general population. The stability as well as the demand for commidities as aesult of the war revived the Dominican economy. The MG also reduced the nation's debt, built a road network that at last connected all regions of the country, reduced political violence, and created a professional National Guard to replace the warring partisan units. The American intervention would last 8byears until 1924.

The Dominican Republic was at the time known as Santo Domingo. The country's World War I history is largely one if American intervention. Growing U.S. investment in the Dominican Republic, as well as the increasingly assertive foreign policy of the Roosevelt Administration desiring to limit European influence in Latin America resulted in greater U.S. influence in Dominican affairs. Citing the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, the U.S. Government took over the administration of Dominican customs to pay off the European creditor nations threatening to intervene (1905). European intervention in the Dominican Republic to ensure repayment of loans probably did not occur only because the United states which was now the world's greatest industrial power with a substantial High Seas fleet opposed European intervention. In the 19th century the Monroe Doctrine had little might behind it. This was no longer the case. The United States to help defuse the situation and avoid conflict with European powers began to intervene in Dominican affairs. Added to the American concern was President Roosevelt's decision to begin building the Panama Canal. The United States did not want expanded European involvement in the Caribbean before the Canal, it was determined to prevent it after the Canal. Economic difficulties plagued the Dominican Republic. The country bcause of incompetent, corrupt leadership borrowed heavily and was unable to repay its massive foreign debts--massive of course in comparison to its GDP. European debtor countries with navies threatened to intervene. In addition there were rising levels of disorder in the country. The U.S. administration of Dominican customs was formalized by a treaty. President Ramón Cáceres (1905-11) returned a modicum of stability. Cáceres decided to deal with the debt issue by signing a treaty with the United States (1907). The United states took over the customs in exchange for purchasing the outstanding Dominican debt. The Custom House throughout the Caribbean and Central America was the principal source of government revenue. President Cáceres was was assassinated leading to a breakdown in civil order (1911). The violence threatened to become and outright civil war. President Taft dispatched 750 Marines to the Dominican Republic and withheld funds from the customs receivership. The Marines installed Adolfo Nouel, Archbishop of Santo Domingo, as a temporary president. U.S. officials compelled the resignation of the succeeding president, José Bordas (1914). The Wilson administrations attempted to mediate among the warring parties, but the disorder was only temporarily abated. Concerned about rising Dominican debt and continued political instability, President Wilson demanded greater U.S. control of Dominican finances and the replacement of its military with a police headed by an American appointee (1915). Turmoil and political instability in the Dominican Republic resulted in American intervention. Dominican opposition to this led to the collapse of a newly installed government of President Juan Isidro Jiménez. His acceptance of U.S. demands proved widely unpopular. American authorities held back custom funds to Jiménez and instead announced a military intervention to support Jiménez who opposed the intervention. The United States might not have intervened, but the War in Europe changed the American assessment. American officials were concerned about possible German use of the country as base for attacks on the United States, especially the Panama Canal. A conflict erupted on the streets of in Santo Domingo between 800 supporters of President Juan Isidro Jimenes and 500 followers of Desiderio Arias, the Minister of War, basically a caudillo (May 1916). The U.S. Government responded with military action. U.S. troops landed in Santo Domingo and coastal towns (May 1916). Jiménez resigned. Dominican leaders attempted to negotiate with the U.S. Government, but William Russell, the U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic, had been instructed not to concede any U.S. demands. Elections were scheduled for December 3, but none if the candidates were willing to cooperate with the occupying American authorities. U.S. occupation resulted in considerable Dominican and international criticism. U.S. Marines occupied the country (late 1916). The most notable event during the War was that the American cruiser USS Memphis was wrecked by a tidal wave at Santo Domingo (August 1916). The United States thus replaced the Dominican government with direct U.S. military rule November 1916). This was overseen U.S. Navy Captain Harry Knapp who cited violations of the 1907 Treaty. The Marines set up a Military Government (MG) overseen by Knapp. Political factions attempted to organize guerrilla campaigns with very limited success. The military government maintained most Dominican laws and institutions and managed to pacify the general population. The stability as well as the demand for commodities as a result of the war revived the Dominican economy. There was significant infrastructure construction. The MG also reduced the nation's debt, built a road network that at last connected all regions of the country, reduced political violence, and created a professional National Guard to replace the warring partisan units. These were all accomplishments that no Dominican Government had managed to achieve, largely diverting much of the Customs income. U.S. officials insisted that Dominican authorities sever diplomatic relations with Germany after the United States declared war (April 1917). The Dominican Republic played no real role in the War. Its primary export was sugar which added to Allied resources. he U.S. Marines built roads, schools, and communications and sanitation facilities as ell as other projects. The occupation was unpopular, but there was no significant armed opposition. After World War I, public opinion in the United States began to turn against the occupation. After some negotiation, the United States withdrew leaving a democratically elected government behind (1924).

Pre-War Sitiation (1900-13)

American involvement began durng the Roosevelt (1901-09) and Taft Administratons(1909-13). Growing U.S. investment in the Dominican Republic, as well as the increasingly assertive foreign policy of the Roosevelt Administration desiring to limit European influence in Latin America resulted in greater U.S. influence in Dominican affairs. Citing the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, the U.S. Government took over the administration of Dominican customs to pay off the European creditor nations threatening to intervene (1905). European intervention in the Dominican Republic to ensure repayment of loans probably did not occur only because the United states which was now the world's greatest industrial power with a substantial High Seas fleet opposed European intervention. In the 19th century the Monroe Doctrine had little might behind it. This was no longer the case. The United States to help defuse the situation and avoid conflict with European powers began to intervene in Dominican affairs. Added to the American concern was President Roosevelt's decision to begin building the Panama Canal. The United States did not want expanded European involvement in the Caribbean before the Canal, it was determined to prevent it after the Canal. Economic difficulties plagued the Dominican Republic. The country bcause of incompetent, corrupt leadership borrowed heavily and was unable to repay its massive foreign debts--massive of course in comparison to its GDP. European debtor countries with navies threatened to intervene. In addition there were rising levels of disorder in the country. The U.S. administration of Dominican customs was formalized by a treaty. President Ramón Cáceres (1905-11) returned a modicum of stability. Cáceres decided to deal with the debt issue by signing a treaty with the United States (1907). The United states took over the customs in exchange for purchasing the outstanding Dominican debt. The Custom House throughout the Caribbean and Central America was the principal source of government revenue. President Cáceres was was assassinated leading to a breakdown in civil order (1911). The violence threatened to become and outright civil war. President Taft dispatched 750 Marines to the Dominican Republic and withheld funds from the customs receivership. The Marines installed Adolfo Nouel, Archbishop of Santo Domingo, as a temporary president.

World War I Era (1914-18)

President Woodrow Wilson was elected (1912). The Wilson administrations attempted to mediate among the warring parties, but the disorder was only temporarily abated. U.S. officials compelled the resignation of the succeeding president, José Bordas (1914). World War I erupted in Europe (1914). This raised American concerns, primarily with the security of the newly opened Panama Canal. The Dominican debt and continued to increase aswell as political instability. President Wilson demanded greater U.S. control of Dominican finances and the replacement of its military with a police force headed by an American appointee (1915). Turmoil and political instability in the Dominican Republic resulted in American intervention. Dominican opposition to this led to the collapse of a newly installed government of President Juan Isidro Jiménez. His acceptance of U.S. demands proved widely unpopular. American authorities held back custom funds to Jiménez and instead announced a military intervention to support Jiménez who opposed the intervention. The United States might not have intervened, but the War in Europe changed the American assessment. American officials were concerned about possible German use of the country as base for attacks on the United States, especially the Panama Canal. A conflict erupted on the streets of in Santo Domingo between 800 supporters of President Juan Isidro Jimenes and 500 followers of Desiderio Arias, the Minister of War, basically a caudillo (May 1916). The U.S. Government responded with military action. U.S. troops landed in Santo Domingo and coastal towns (May 1916). Jiménez resigned. Dominican leaders attempted to negotiate with the U.S. Government, but William Russell, the U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic, had been instructed not to concede any U.S. demands. Elections were scheduled for December 3, but none if the candidates were willing to cooperate with the occupying American authorities. U.S. occupation resulted in considerable Dominican and international criticism. U.S. Marines occupied the country (late 1916). The most notable event during the War was that the American cruiser USS Memphis was wrecked by a tidal wave at Santo Domingo (August 1916). The United States thus replaced the Dominican government with direct U.S. military rule November 1916). This was overseen U.S. Navy Captain Harry Knapp who cited violations of the 1907 Treaty. The Marines set up a Military Government (MG) overseen by Knapp. Political factions attempted to organize guerrilla campaigns with very limited success. The military government maintained most Dominican laws and institutions and managed to pacify the general population. The stability as well as the demand for commodities as a result of the war revived the Dominican economy. There was significant infrastructure construction. The MG also reduced the nation's debt, built a road network that at last connected all regions of the country, reduced political violence, and created a professional National Guard to replace the warring partisan units. These were all accomplishments that no Dominican Government had managed to achieve, largely diverting much of the Customs income. U.S. officials insisted that Dominican authorities sever diplomatic relations with Germany after the United States declared war (April 1917). The Dominican Republic played no real role in the War. Its primary export was sugar which added to Allied resources. he U.S. Marines built roads, schools, and communications and sanitation facilities as ell as other projects. The occupation was unpopular, but there was no significant armed opposition.

Post-World War I (1919-24)

After World War I, public opinion in the United States began to turn against the occupation. After some negotiation, the United States withdrew leaving a democratically elected government behind (1924).

Sources

Created: 5:22 PM 12/21/2015
Last updated: 8:11 PM 5/4/2024