The Hatian Revolution's Effect on Santo Domingo

               Due to the fact that Saint Domingue and Santo Domingo both shared the island of Hispaniola, the events of one of the colonies many times directly affected the other. Therefore in order to fully assess the Hatian Revolution's effect in Santo Domingo, one must delve back into the history of Hispaniola.

               Hispaniola was first colonized by Spain when Christopher Columbus arrived on the island which was inhabited by the native Tainos. Then the Tainos and some poor europeans were put to work in the gold mines. Soon after Spain utilized African slaves for labor since the Taino were dying in dramatic numbers due to disease and harsh conditions. Eventually the supplies of gold were being depleted which cause the worth of the island to the Spanish to diminish. Meanwhile, French buccaneers began to inhabit the northwest part of Hispaniola which was Tortuga and eventually began to colonize the western part of hispaniola, Since the Spainish's power was on a decline, the signed the Treaty of Ryswick which officially divided the island of hispaniola between the french (saint domingue) and spanish (santo domingo). Santo Domingo started off as a very profitable island but when the spanish lost interest in it, Saint Domingue rose as the most profitable Caribbean island because of its huge cultivation of sugar, cotton, and tobacco by the use of African slave and taino labor. Therefore slavery was the turning wheel and driving force behind the wealth of the island. The slaves worked day in and out under cruel and sick conditions they faced on the plantations. they were seen as property and nothing more. Many died, had deformities, or had faced cruel and harsh punishment while in slavery such as branding, cutting of one's foot or hamstring, whipping, sexual abuse, splitting up of families, and gelding. There was also a caste system and ranking due to skin color, freedom, heredity,religion, and race

                Therefore there were many slave revolts, espcially after the french revolution in France. Many slaves felt that they should also recieve liberte, egalite, and fraternite even though the Europeans did not even see the slaves as people. The Hatians, led by toussaint, fought for their freedom and slavery was eventually abolished. According to allempires, Toussaint led the fight for independence of saint domingue from the french and was succeeded by Dessalines. After Haiti became independent from the french they wanted to make sure that the europeans would not be able to colonize Haiti again so in order to ensure this they took over the whole island. This did not go over well with the Spanish who returned and brought Santo Domingo back under spanish rule. Then the spaniards tried to re establush slavery in santo domingo, while trying to bring hatians there to work as slaves, but the Hatian government took control of santo domingo again and abolished slavery on the whole island of hispaniola. The dominicans wanted their independence as well so they resisted the Hatians and offically became independent in 1844 and was then named the la republica dominicana.

                  Santo Domingo was directly affected by the Haitian revolution in that they were numerously taken control of by the french, Haiti, and the Spanish during that time. At first, Toussaint took over santo domingo under the name of the french, then the spanish took it back, then it was put under the rule of Haiti several times once they were independent in order to ensure their indepedence and to prevent the isle from having anymore slavery but the Spanish outsted them and tried to reestablish slavery only to be fought by Haiti again. Even though slavery was abolished, the rule of Santo Domingo constantly switched hands and they were never officially independent until 1844, 40 years after Haiti became independent. This also caused a rift in Haitian and Dominican relations due to events such as Haiti's constant attempts to rule Dominican Republic, the spanish trying to reestablish slavery, bringing hatians to Santo Domingo to work as slaves, and also the hatian massacre which occured years later by Dominican dictator Trujillo.

"Dominican Republic History by Hispaniola.com." Dominican Republic Travel Guide. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. http://www.hispaniola.com/dominican_republic/info/history.php.

"The Conflict Between Haiti and the Dominican Republic - All Empires." Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=conflict_haiti_dominican>.