February 8, 1822: Beginning of the Haitian Occupation

Santo Domingo. — On this date, an event of relevance in the history of the Dominican Republic is commemorated: the beginning of the Haitian occupation of the eastern part of the island in 1822, led by Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer.

On February 8, Haitian troops entered the territory of the then Spanish Haiti, marking the beginning of a period of “22 years of foreign rule”, which lasted until the proclamation of National Independence on February 27, 1844. During the occupation, significant changes occurred in the political, social, and economic spheres, such as the abolition of slavery and the imposition of new laws and administrative structures, events that profoundly influenced the identity and historical process of the Dominican people.

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Remembering this anniversary invites reflection on the struggle for sovereignty, self-determination, and the patriotic values that would later give rise to the Dominican Republic as a free and independent nation.