Period

Event

4000 B.C. to 3500 B.C

Indigenous people begin to populate the Antilles

400 B.C.

Occupation of the Antilles by agricultural groups of Arawak origin arrived from the Venezuelan coast.

1000 A.C

Development of the Taino culture in the Antilles. Agriculturists and ceramists.

1492

Christopher Columbus discovers the north coast of Santo Domingo. The Fuerte de la Navidad (The Fort of Christmas) is built, later destroyed by the natives.

1493-1494

Columbus founds La Isabella village on the north side of the country

1498

Bartholomew Columbus founds the city of Santo Domingo on the eastern border of the Ozama river.

1499

The first black slaves are introduced.

1500

The Crown dismisses Columbus as governor of the island and in his place appoints commander Francisco de Bobadilla

1502

Nicholas de Ovando takes possession as governor. He transfers the city to the western border.

1509

Diego Columbus is named governor.

1511

The first Royal Audiency is established.

1514

First general distribution of natives

1516

The sugar industry begins

1519-1545

Rebellions of black and indigenous slaves

1586

Francis Drake occupies and ransacks the city of Santo Domingo.

1605-1606

Devastations of Osorio. Rebellions continue.

1629-1668

Battle between Spaniards and French for the control of Isla Tortuga (Turtle Island)

1697

Spain recognizes the French occupation of the western part of the island

1715

Battle between Spaniards and French for La Española territory

1731

Authorities of the two colonies sign agreement of border limits

1791-1795

Battle continues between the two colonies. Treaty of Basel: Spain yields the Spanish Santo Domingo to France.

1801

Toussaint Louverture invades the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo

1804

Dessalines proclaims the birth of the Republic of Haiti. Slavery abolished by France, is re-established in the Spanish colony

1805

Dessalines invades the Spanish colony

1809

The French vacate Santo Domingo. The colony returns to the Spanish establishment.

1810-1821

Period of the España Boba (Era of the Foolish Spain). Misery in the Spanish colony.

1822-1844

Haitian President Jean Pierre Boyer invades the Spanish colony and politically joins it to Haiti.

1844

The group of young people, Los Trinitarios, led a coup d’etat and proclaim the founding of the Dominican Republic, and names Francisco del Rosario Sanchez as the President. Pedro Santana takes control of the Assembly. The Constitution of San Cristobal is promulgated. Santana is elected President of the Republic.

1849

Haitian forces invade the Dominican Republic again. They are defeated in the battles El Numero and Las Carreras.

1855

Spain acknowledges the Dominican independence.

1858

A new liberal Constitution is proclaimed in Moca.

1860-1863

Annexation to Spain, on Santana’s request.

1863

War of Restoration

1867

Treaty of Peace between Haiti and Dominican Republic

1916-1924

First military occupation by the United States

1930

Rafael Leonidas Trujillo’s dictatorship begins

1930

Hurricane San Zenón

1937

Slaughter of Haitians by order of Trujillo

1941

Trujillo-Hull Treaty recovers Dominican financial independence

1960

Murder of the Mirabal Sisters

1961

Trujillo is assassinated

1962

Juan Bosch is elected President

1963

A new Constitution is proclaimed

1965-1966

Second military occupation by the United States  

1970-1978

Balaguer is President

1978

Antonio Guzman is elected President

1982

Antonio Guzman commits suicide. Salvador Jorge Blanco is elected President

1979

Hurricane David causes more than 2,000 deaths

1986-1996

Balaguer serves as President. (Pact for Democracy reduces Balaguer’s last presidential period to two years, and reforms the Constitution to prohibit presidential re-election and to establish and second electoral round).

1996

Leonel Fernandez is elected President. (Patriotic Pact).

1998

Jose Francisco Peña Gómez dies, ill with cancer.

1998

Hurricane Georges causes enormous damages and the number of deaths in the country is in the hundreds

2000

Hipólito Mejía is elected President

2001

Juan Bosch dies

2002

Joaquin Balaguer dies

2002

The National Assembly re-introduces the presidential re-election in a Constitutional reform

2003

The XVI Pan-American Games are held in Santo Domingo

2003

Hard crisis in the national financial system due to the fraudulent bankruptcy of the Intercontinental Bank, Banister. Alarming inflation and devaluation.

2003

Amelia Vega becomes the first Dominican woman to win the Miss Universe Pageant

2004

Leonel Fernandez is elected President

2004

Athlete Felix Sanchez becomes the first Dominican to win an Olympic Gold Medal