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United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1916–1924)

The first United States occupation of the Dominican Republic lasted from 1916 to 1924. It aimed to force the Dominicans to repay their large debts to European creditors, whose governments threatened military intervention. On May 13, 1916,[5] Rear Admiral William B. Caperton forced the Dominican Republic's Secretary of War Desiderio Arias, who had seized power from President Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra, to leave Santo Domingo by threatening the city with naval bombardment.[5] The Marines landed three days later and established effective control of the country within two months. Three major roads were built, largely for military purposes, connecting for the first time the capital with Santiago in the Cibao, Azua in the west, and San Pedro de Macorís in the east; and the system of forced labor used by the Americans in Haiti was absent in the Dominican Republic.[6]

Aftermath[edit]

Despite the withdrawal, there were still concerns regarding the collection and application of the country's custom revenues. To address this problem, representatives of the United States and the Dominican Republic governments met at a convention and signed a treaty, on December 27, 1924, which gave the United States control over the country's custom revenues.[33] In 1941, the treaty was officially repealed and control over the country's custom revenues was again returned to the government of the Dominican Republic.[33] However this treaty created lasting resentment of the United States among the people of the Dominican Republic.[34]


According to Lorgia García Peña, the occupation resulted in increased inequality in the Dominican Republic and contributed to the establishment of an economic and political system that benefits rich companies, while subjecting most Dominicans to poverty.[20] American support for future dictator Rafael Trujillo, who rose through the ranks of the National Guard with the help of the U.S. Marines, was instrumental for establishing his base of support within the Dominican armed forces.[35]


The Dominican Campaign Medal was an authorized U.S. service medal for those military members who had participated in the conflict.

United States occupation of the Dominican Republic (1965–66)

United States occupation of Nicaragua

Mexican Border War (1910–1919)

Latin America–United States relations

Foreign interventions by the United States

United States involvement in regime change

. Tulsa World. Tulsa, Oklahoma: J.R. Brady. July 7, 1916. pp. 1–10. ISSN 2330-7234. OCLC 4450824. Retrieved July 7, 2020.

"U.S. Marines Rout Dominican Rebels"

About.Com: The US Occupation of the Dominican Republic, 1916–1924

globalsecurity.org:Dominican Republic Occupation (1916–24)

Country Studies: Occupation by the United States, 1916–24

The American War Library: Numbers of Americans Killed/Wounded, by Action

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