This Day in the Law
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August 16

Restoration Day in Dominican Republic (1863)


On August 16, 1863, a group of resistance fighters raised the flag of the Dominican Republic on Capitol Hill in Santo Domingo. This act signified the Dominican Republic’s independence from Spain, and the day has since been celebrated as Restoration Day.

After only seventeen years of independence from Spain, Dominican General Pedro Santana announced that the Dominican Republic would be annexed by Spain, and once again become a colony. A number of conditions had combined to bring about this reversion to colonialism, including the threat of an attack from Haiti, and the threat of an economic collapse. Furthermore, new leadership in Spain was advocating renewed imperial expansion.

Though General Santana had supported annexation, a large portion of the Dominican did not. The first rebellion against Spanish rule broke out in May 1861, but it was quickly quashed. After this failure, a better organized revolt, under the leadership of General Sánchez, sprang up only a month later. Santana, now bearing the title of captain general of the Province of Santo Domingo, was forced to take to the field against his own countrymen as the representative of a foreign power. After defeating the second revolt and executing General Sánchez, Santana resigned from his position.

The rebellion continued, fed by racial tension, excessive taxation, an unstable economy, unwelcome religious reform, and the restriction of trade to the benefit of the Spanish empire. The Spaniards quelled more uprisings in 1863, but guerrilla actions continued.

Meanwhile, Spain was pressuring Haiti to cede territory to Spain or pay a large sum as indemnity. This made Haitian president Fabre Geffrard angry, and in retaliation, he decided to back the Dominican resistance. This Haitian support was an important help to the rebels, as they could use Haitian territory as a base of operations. On August 16, 1863, the group made a raid on the capital Santo Domingo and raised the Dominican flag on Capitol Hill. Their proclamation of an Act of Independence launched what is known as the War of Restoration, and eventually led to Spanish withdrawal.

Today, August 16 is still celebrated as Restoration Day in the Dominican Republic, as the day the Dominicans declared their independence from Spain.