ABSTRACT
One of the most hotly debated issues concerning La República Dominicana, especially in contemporary times, is the controversial and onerous United States military intervention and occupation of 1916–1924. In fact, as we mentioned earlier, most of the reference material in English about the island nation deals almost exclusively with rather isolated aspects of the country such as the instances of North American military intervention. Dominicans themselves, whether serious commentators and analysts of history or ordinary citizens engaged in a fast-paced game of dominoes, still argue passionately about exactly why the United States invaded their small island. The Dominican Republic without its western neighbor Haiti is truly a tiny country. A mere 18,800 square miles, Quisqueya could easily fit twice inside the borders of either Nebraska or Kansas, with room to spare. There are more people living in metropolitan Philadelphia—some nine and a half million—than the total population of the island. What possible threat did this minuscule Caribbean nation pose to the colossal United States that military intervention was deemed necessary? What circumstances, real or imagined, warranted the total seizure of the country’s customs operations, as well as the takeover of other internal financial institutions? And then for the United States Marines to remain for a period of eight years there—why?
