Question 1
Columbus claimed the island of Espanola later named as Hispaniola; the Spanish occupation of Hispaniola did not last long after that. Spanish only ruled the island from 1861 to 1865. In 1916, the island was occupied by the United States. The brutal military period began, as recalled by Dominicans, when Spanish language use was restricted, and the export of crops was reduced significantly. Many people migrated to the Spanish colonies of Cuba during the unification of Hispaniola from 1822 to 1844. The Haitians were the ones who confiscated all the property of churches and deported foreign clergy. They also imposed heavy taxes and reduced the number of students and teachers.
Question 2
During the 16th century, the poor colonials were the majority of Spanish colonies who lived hunting herds of cattle. In the 17th century, 100,000 cattle were abandoned due to disease and starvation. During the Revolution in 1791, most of the rural people who remained were cattle ranchers. The French Revolution restrained the progress of the Spanish people. Pedro Santana was a rich cattle rancher who helped the Trinitarios to get freedom from Haiti. He also started negotiations with the Queen of Spain, Isabella, after inheriting a bankrupt government. He helped restore the Dominican Republic to Spain through his communication. Later on, in 1848, Vice President Jimenes forced Santana to resign. The abortion of slavery in the French colonies was also possible through a great deal of interaction. Trade relations also flourished due to interaction. Hispaniola benefitted from the interaction with Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. French gained control over the Spanish colonies during the 17th century, and their interaction further enhanced the cultural exchange. The population of cattle ranchers was mostly slaves during the 16th century who sold their hides.
References
Bennett, Ralph F. The Early Dominicans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013. Print.
Moya Pons, Frank. The Dominican Republic. Princeton, NJ: Wiener, 2010. Print.
Moya, Frank. The Dominican Republic: A National History. 1st ed. 2010. Print.
