Unit IV: Cold War Battles in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic , and Beyond (4/2)

This is an excellent 10 minute synopsis of US actions in Guatemala in 1954 and of their effects on Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Corresponding text is found on p256-263 of Brief History of the Caribbean.

Government barely functioned in the Dominican Republic since independence
1915 - US Pres Wilson demands DR allow US officials to control govt finances, train police, replace army
Dominican govt refuses
1916 - Marines begin occupation of DR; build roads, schools, improve public sanitation, replace army with new National Guard
1924 - US troops leave

1927 - Rafael L Trujillo takes command of National Guard; becomes DR army by '28
1930 - with army support, Trujillo gains presidency; given extraordinary powers to deal with crises of Depression and hurricane; retains these powers throughout rule (renames Santo Domingo - Ciudad Trujillo)

Rafael Trujillo

WWII proves beneficial to DR economy
   - export profits boom
   - foreign debt disappeared
   - currency stabilized
   - middle class grows
   - govt investment expands in roads, airports, tourism, rail, education (illiteracy declines)

Massive corruption; use of torture and murder against political opponents; no free elections

Late 50's - sugar prices collapse; tourism declines
1960 - Trujillo tried to have President of Venezuela assassinated; condemned by OAS and US

May 1961 - Trujillo assassinated by DR army officers (CIA support?)
Joaquin Balaguer assumes interim presidency

Dec 1962 - Juan Bosch elected president
   - land redistribution
   - new Constitution weakens role of Catholic Church
   - threatens to weaken army
   - tolerated Communist Party

Juan Bosch

 Sept 1963 - Bosch arrested by military; exiled to Puerto Rico

Military govt promises to organize new elections
Military and population divide into supporters of Bosch and supporters of Balaguer
In exile, Bosch writes scathing criticism of ruling class of DR; calls for sweeping structural changes; earns support of Communists
April 1965 - Bosch-sympathetic army officers seize parts of Santo Domingo

23,000 US Marines occupy DR
June 1966 - new elections in DR; Balaguer wins presidency

Joaquin Balaguer

New Constitution which establishes more central, top-down system of government; very powerful President
Presidency from Balaguer to Bosch and back from 60s through 1990s