Rafael Trujillo

The Dominican Dictator

La República Dominicana

About 2 times the size of New Hampshire

How long was his reign of PODER?

1930- May 30th, 1961

What background (race) makes up the Dominican GENTE?

- ¾ are European and African decent because of the numerous amount of slaves brought from Africa by the French and Spanish

- ¼ soley trace their ancestors to Europe or Africa

In 1906 what did the Dominicans sign with the United States?

A fifty year treaty that gave the United States control

over the country’s customs department

In 1920 what did the U.S. do to the Dom. Rep.?

Las fuerzas armadas left the island and left Rafael

Trujillo in charge of the Dominican National

Guard.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt with the Trujillos, March 1934.

Francisco Franco (Spanish dictator) and Trujillo.

When Trujillo ran against Horacio Vasquez for president in 1930 who won?

Trujillo with 95% of the votes

Once in poder what was the name of his secret police force?

SIM Military Intelligence Service

In 1937 what was one of his first brutal attacks?

Slaughter of 20,000 Haitians

Who did Trujillo model his dictadura after?

Francisco Franco from

Spain

During his reign he became extremely wealthy. How did he do it?

Took over plantations and businesses

What was Trujillo’s nickname?

El jefe

“The boss”

When did the conspirators hope to assassinate Trujillo?

January 21at a cattle fair, however the day before several hundred were arrested by SIM

Among those arrested were tres hermanas. What were their names?

María, Teresa, and Minerva Mirabel.

Vice President Richard Nixon and Trujillo.

On December 19, 1999 the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25 (the anniversary of the

day of the murder of the Mirabal sisters) as the annual date for the

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in commemoration of the sisters.

En el tiempo de las mariposasis based upon the reign of Trujillo

and the Mirabel sisters…

by Julia Alvarez (1994)

What have los estudiantes said about this lesson in the past…

“I think the movie was a strong account of what really happens to people in other countries. It is a small taste of what can happen in our world. People want power and will sometimes kill to get it. While things like this are happening, we know about it and do nothing about it.”

“It made me realize how good we have it here in the United States. We have freedom of speech and can not be punished for speaking our opinions.”