Dominican Civil War (1911–1912)

Dominican Civil War (1911–1912)
Date	5 December 1911 – 30 November 1912; (11 months, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Location	Dominican Republic
Result	Rebel victory
Belligerents
Dominican Government	Dominican rebels Supported by: Haiti; United States;
Commanders and leaders
Eladio Victoria; Alfredo Victoria;	Horacio Vásquez; Desiderio Arias;
Casualties and losses
	3,000 dead

The Dominican Civil War that lasted from 5 December 1911 until 30 November 1912 was the bloodiest in the history of the Dominican Republic.^[1] It began as an uprising in the northwest of the country. The United States considered military intervention, but it succeeded in negotiating a settlement without landing its forces. The war is sometimes known as the "War of the Quiquises", a nickname given to the rebels.

Events

Assassination of Cáceres

On 19 November 1911, General Luis Tejera led a group of conspirators in an ambush on the horse-drawn carriage of President Ramón Cáceres. During the shootout, Cáceres was killed and Tejera wounded in the leg. The assassins fled in an automobile, which they soon crashed into a river. After rescuing Tejera from the water and depositing him in a hut by the road the other conspirators fled on foot. Tejera was found shortly after and summarily executed.^[2]

Civil war

In the ensuing power vacuum, General

Thomas Cleland Dawson, reported that "the government has a well-equipped force in the field and could soon put down the rebellion on the northwestern frontier were it not for the effective aid they claim the Haitian government is giving it." General Arias's forces seized the customs houses and extorted loans from the peasants and plantation owners in the districts they controlled. The officers of the corrupt Dominican Army commonly pocketed their troops' pay and plundered the territories they were sent to subdue.^[2]^[3]

The chaotic situation was to the advantage of the military leadership of both sides, who enriched themselves at the people's expense. A report emanating from the American legation, dated 3 August, blamed the military for prolonging the conflict.

Día de la Raza

.

The American commission reported on 13 November that the military's self-interest and the rebels' confidence precluded any mutual agreement to end the fighting.[5] The Taft administration then reduced its payouts to the Dominican government down to 45% of customs revenues, which was the floor established when Dominican customs came under American receivership through the convention of 1907. The United States further threatened to transfer formal recognition to the rebels and cede all the 45% of customs revenues to them unless President Victoria resigned. The presence of the U.S. Navy and 750 U.S. Marines gave force to the threat. Victoria announced his resignation on 26 November and stepped down as president on 30 November. American official met with the rebel leader, Vásquez, and Archbishop of Santo Domingo Adolfo Alejandro Nouel was appointed interim president on 30 November.^[2] Nouel was tasked with holding free elections, but Arias soon defied the government. After four months Nouel resigned and Congress elected as his successor Senator José Bordas Valdez, who took office on 14 April 1913. Valdez's sole concern was to remain president.^[3]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Rachum 2004, p. 67.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Maurer 2013, pp. 194–96.
^ ^a ^b ^c Atkins & Wilson 1998, p. 45.
^ Maurer 2013, p. 196, quoting the report: "The revolutionists are no nearer to overthrowing the government than they were eight months ago, and the government is still spending enormous sums in military operations against the revolutionists. It is pretty generally admitted now that this condition of affairs is being purposely prolonged by the government military chiefs, who are enriching themselves at the expense of the troops.".
^ Maurer 2013, p. 196, quoting the report: "The government, now thoroughly discredited and wholly unable longer to withstand the rebels unless materially assisted, desires to hold on to its present lucrative position as long as possible at any cost. On the other hand, the revolution, now stronger than ever and confident of ultimate success, is disinclined to make any terms with the government.".

Sources

Atkins, G. Pope; Wilson, Larman C. (1998). The Dominican Republic and the United States: From Imperialism to Transnationalism. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press.
ISBN 0820319317
.

Maurer, Noel (2013). The Empire Trap: The Rise and Fall of U.S. Intervention to Protect American Property Overseas, 1893–2013. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
ISBN 9780691155821
.

Rachum, Ilan (2004). "Origins and Historical Significance of Día de la Raza". Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe. 76 (76): 61–81.
doi:10.18352/erlacs.9685
.

Welles, Sumner (1928). Naboth's Vineyard: The Dominican Republic, 1844–1924. New York: Payson and Clarke.