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 |