The Annexation of the Dominican Republic to Spain in 1861

General Pedro Santana stood on the balcony of the Palacio de Gobierno, addressing the crowd gathered in the Plaza de Armas. He solemnly declared that the Dominican Republic ceased to exist as a political entity and would now become a Spanish overseas province in 1861, just 17 years after its formation.

On February 27, 1844, the Dominican Republic was proclaimed an independent state, marking a significant milestone in Dominican history. This event initiated a period of nation-building amidst conflicts with Haiti, leading to the formation of the First Republic lasting from 1844 to 1861.

Generals Pedro Santana and Buenaventura Báez were key figures in Dominican politics from 1844 to 1861. Both leaders, along with other political actors, influenced the national scene. Despite their political power, Santana and Báez doubted the Dominican people's ability to maintain independence, often seeking protectorates or annexation to foreign powers.

Conservatives like Santana and Báez believed that securing a protectorate or annexation to a foreign power, such as France, England, the United States, or Spain, was crucial to safeguarding Dominican independence. They aimed to ensure the political existence of the Dominican nation independently from Haiti, which advocated for the indivisibility of the island.

Upon resuming the presidency in 1858, Santana faced economic challenges and fears of a potential Haitian military invasion due to the country's fragile economic situation. Despite President Fabril Ye Franz's assurance of non-military intervention, concerns grew as a thriving trade emerged in the border regions, reminiscent of past conflicts.

In 1859, General Felipe Alfao, acting as an envoy for President Santana of the Dominican Republic, initiated diplomatic efforts with the Kingdom of Spain. The objective was to negotiate a political and economic protectorate with Queen Isabel II to strengthen Spain's strategic position in the Caribbean, integrating the Dominican Republic into its sphere of influence alongside Cuba and Puerto Rico.

In 1860, Brigadier Joaquín Gutiérrez de Ruvalcaba, along with other Spanish commissioners, arrived in Santo Domingo to assess the country's conditions and explore the benefits of potential annexation to Spain. This mission was supported by the captaincies general of Cuba and Puerto Rico, sparking reactions among supporters of Buenaventura Báez and political adversaries of Santana.

Various diplomatic representatives from France, England, and the United States vehemently opposed any plans for a protectorate or annexation of the Dominican Republic to Spain. Their opposition was fueled by concerns that such actions could jeopardize their interests in the region, leading to a campaign of denunciation against the annexation project.

President Santana's emissary, Pedro Ricard y Torres, presented a formal proposal to Spain outlining conditions for the Dominican Republic's annexation. The proposal included considerations for the Dominican territory to become a Spanish overseas province, granting Dominicans equal rights and benefits as Spanish citizens, respecting the Dominican constitutional ban on slavery, maintaining existing laws, and integrating the Dominican currency into the colonial system.

In April 1860, President Santana appealed to Queen Isabel II, expressing the Dominican people's desire for annexation to Spain after 17 years of continuous warfare. Santana emphasized the population's trust in Spain's acceptance of the annexation as crucial for the country's future.

On March 18, 1861, President Santana gathered his followers in front of the Government Palace to announce the end of the Dominican Republic. This marked the formal incorporation of the Dominican territory into Spain, signaling the cessation of the Dominican Republic's existence as an independent nation.

Pedro Santana defended the decision to annex the Dominican Republic to Spain in 1861. He argued that internal and external actors had tried to strip the Dominican people of valuable elements like their religion, language, beliefs, and customs. Santana portrayed Spain as a caring mother welcoming the Dominican people back like a lost child in a shipwreck. He claimed that annexation would provide Dominicans with the civil liberties enjoyed by Spaniards while preventing the risk of losing that freedom again. Santana believed Spain would ensure property rights, recognize the Republic's acts, reward merit, and bring peace to the disputed land.

The annexation to Spain led to significant consequences for the Dominican Republic. The tricolor flag of the Trinitarios was replaced by the Spanish flag, marking a new political phase where the Dominican people lost their sovereignty and independence. Pedro Santana transitioned from being the president of a sovereign nation to the captain general of a Spanish overseas province. Despite receiving military and noble titles, Santana soon realized that the annexation lacked popular support, leading to immediate discord and discontent among the population.

The annexation to Spain in 1861 was considered a grave political error. The Dominican Republic ceased to exist as an independent nation, and Pedro Santana assumed the role of a captain general in a Spanish overseas province. Despite receiving prestigious titles, Santana faced opposition from the majority of the population who were accustomed to living in freedom. The unilateral decision sparked immediate resistance, with the Dominican people expressing their discontent and desire to regain their lost independence through a new struggle.