Ehtnic Conflict between Dominican Republic and Haiti

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The Dominican Republic and Haiti are two countries that share an island. The difficulties of two ethnicities sharing an island bring forth conflicts that stem from colonial times. Race, economics, politics and stigmas all play a role in ethnic conflict between these won cultures that have very different views on their roots. Prejudice, cultural identity issues and resentment towards Haitians is the reason why Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo massacred thousands of unarmed Haitians. This is why the two cultures still clash today.
The history of the colonization of Americas is one written in blood. The Hispaniola is no exception, and the conflict can still be seen today. In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed west. In doing so, he discovered the American continents, and with that, a whole new world. In December 1492, Columbus and his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria landed on an island called Haiti/ Quisqueya (the original Taino names for Hispaniola). This set off a chain of events that would ultimately change every aspect of the world, as anyone knew it. The justification for Columbus’s voyages was supposedly to convert the savage people he encountered when he reached the island. His ultimate goal was to find gold and spices that he could claim for the Spanish crown, of which he was promised 10%. December 12 marked the founding of a temporary settlement called La Concepcion in the northeast part of the island. After exploring the island and meeting the Taino chieftains of Hispaniola, Columbus decided to head back to Spain, taking back samples that depicted life in the New World. Along with items like tobacco, pineapples, hammocks and peppers, Columbus also took a group of Taino Indians and put them on displa...

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...ependence were Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella who along with Duarte, are known as the forefathers of the Dominican Republic. La Trinitaria’s manifesto in favor of independence was released on January 16, 1844, thus the fight for independence began. Due to the work of La Trinitaria, many battles and much carnage, the Dominican Republic was born on February 27, 1844, claiming independence from Haiti with a declaration at the Puerta del Conde. Small battles with the Haitian army continued across the island. As continued proof of the Hispanic ideology held by Dominicans, Pedro Santana, first president of the Dominican Republic, pledged allegiance to the Spanish crown, and in 1861annexed the Dominican Republic to Spain
This was the stage set for the mass cultural denial and the animosity towards Haitians faced in the Dominican Republic to this day.

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