Population and Settlement
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS LOCATED IN THE WEST INDIES. ITS LARGEST CITY IS SANTO DOMINGO. ITS NATIONAL NAME IS LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA. AS FOR ITS POPULATION, 16 % OF ITS INHABITANTS ARE WHITE, 11% ARE BLACK, AND 73% ARE MIXED.
ABOVE IS A MAP OF THE CURRENT POPULATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. AS YOU WILL READ ABOUT BELOW IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, THE POPULATION VARIES BETWEEN WHITES, BLACKS, AND MIXED.
(n.d.). Nation master-statistics on the dominican republic population. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from www.nationmaster.com
(n.d.). Nation master-statistics on the dominican republic population. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from www.nationmaster.com
Land Utilization
LAND UTILIZATION IS IMPORTANT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS IT IS RICH IN RESOURCES AND THEREFOR MUST BE MONITORED TO PREVENT OVER-EXTORTION. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD WHICH LED ADVENTURERS TO FLOCK TO THE LAND, IN HOPE OF STEALING ALL ITS RICHES. MORE ON THIS MAY BE FOUND BY READING A MORE IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE SETTLEMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
(n.d.). Dominican republic land utilization. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from www.zonu.com
(n.d.). Dominican republic land utilization. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from www.zonu.com
Dominican Republic Settlement on Dipity.
POPULATION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FIRST BEGAN IN 1492 WHEN THE LAND WAS EXPLORED BY COLUMBUS. WHAT IS NOW THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WAS ONCE NAMED LA ESPANOLA. THE CAPITAL FOUNDED IN 1496 IS SANTO DOMINGO.
CENTURIES LATER THE FRENCH TOOK CONTROL FROM SPAIN. THUS BEGAN THE DEBATE FOR WHO WOULD CONTROL THE LAND. THE HAITIAN BLACKS CONQUERED IN 1801 BUT IN 1814 SPAIN REGAINED THE COLONY. THE HAITIANS RETALIATED ONCE MORE IN 1822, AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1844 THAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WAS REESTABLISHED BY PEDRO SANTANA. THE YEAR OF 1844 ALSO MARKED THE OUTLAW OF SLAVERY. FEBRUARY 27TH 1844 WAS THE OFFICIAL DATE WHEN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CLAIMED INDEPENDENCE FROM HAITI (Dominican republic pearson education 3). THE DECLARATION TOOK PLACE AT PUERTO DEL CONDE.
CENTURIES LATER THE FRENCH TOOK CONTROL FROM SPAIN. THUS BEGAN THE DEBATE FOR WHO WOULD CONTROL THE LAND. THE HAITIAN BLACKS CONQUERED IN 1801 BUT IN 1814 SPAIN REGAINED THE COLONY. THE HAITIANS RETALIATED ONCE MORE IN 1822, AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1844 THAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WAS REESTABLISHED BY PEDRO SANTANA. THE YEAR OF 1844 ALSO MARKED THE OUTLAW OF SLAVERY. FEBRUARY 27TH 1844 WAS THE OFFICIAL DATE WHEN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CLAIMED INDEPENDENCE FROM HAITI (Dominican republic pearson education 3). THE DECLARATION TOOK PLACE AT PUERTO DEL CONDE.
A Look at the Settlement Process of the Dominican Republic
Columbus is know to be the man who discovered the Dominican Republic. However inhabitants already existed. These inhabitants were the Taino Indians, also known as Arawaks (The First Colony 1). These people welcomed the Spaniards who would later use gold to trade with the natives. This New World Colony settled by the Spaniards was La Isla Espanola. With the arrival of Columbus began the settlement process in what is now known to be the Dominican Republic. New people, new customs, and new rules were to be established.
The initial attraction of more settlers was brought about by gold. It was probable there was gold in the land, and this intrigued the Spaniards. With the discovery of gold also came labor opportunities for the Natives. As for the Spaniards, their interest was not in permanent settlement but rather absorbing the most wealth possible from the area (The First Colony 3). Spanish adventurers seeking gold became aggressive with the Natives. Some injustices included theft, humiliation, and abuse of their women. The Indians decided to fightback but were outnumbered. Their downfall came in 1495.
Greedy for power the Spanish crown instituted the idea that all land was property of the crown. This was known as encomienda. The system was established in 1503. Encomenderos were to take responsibility of the Indians as well as teach the ways of Christianity to all inhabitants. Within time the encomienda system led to a decrease in population. Due to improper care, starvation and illness reduced the natives from one million to five-hundred in a matter of 56 years (The First Colony 6). From all these deaths came the need for more laborers and so African slaves were brought in. In 1520 most slaves and laborers were black Africans.
Yet another influence in population was the conquest of Mexico (The First Colony 8). The conquest, paired with a reduction in laborers led newly arrived immigrants to leave. Due to so many Spaniards leaving, the debate over who would now be dominant erupted. The land as argued over by the French and English. The French had intentions to colonize which brought about warfare with the English. There was area ceded to the French, approximately one third of the total amount, and this area is now known as Haiti.
The settlement of new people in the Domincan Republic was attributed by factors such as wealth, injustice and greed. The initial need for Spaniards to have power over the Indians through the encomienda system led to the downfall and decrease in population of the natives. Following in settlement were black African slaves who would fill the position of laborers. Finally, the conquest of Mexico influenced settlement by sending away large groups of Spanish settlers. After this event, settlement was restricted to no one and the French were only the first to claim a spot on the rich, newly found land.
The initial attraction of more settlers was brought about by gold. It was probable there was gold in the land, and this intrigued the Spaniards. With the discovery of gold also came labor opportunities for the Natives. As for the Spaniards, their interest was not in permanent settlement but rather absorbing the most wealth possible from the area (The First Colony 3). Spanish adventurers seeking gold became aggressive with the Natives. Some injustices included theft, humiliation, and abuse of their women. The Indians decided to fightback but were outnumbered. Their downfall came in 1495.
Greedy for power the Spanish crown instituted the idea that all land was property of the crown. This was known as encomienda. The system was established in 1503. Encomenderos were to take responsibility of the Indians as well as teach the ways of Christianity to all inhabitants. Within time the encomienda system led to a decrease in population. Due to improper care, starvation and illness reduced the natives from one million to five-hundred in a matter of 56 years (The First Colony 6). From all these deaths came the need for more laborers and so African slaves were brought in. In 1520 most slaves and laborers were black Africans.
Yet another influence in population was the conquest of Mexico (The First Colony 8). The conquest, paired with a reduction in laborers led newly arrived immigrants to leave. Due to so many Spaniards leaving, the debate over who would now be dominant erupted. The land as argued over by the French and English. The French had intentions to colonize which brought about warfare with the English. There was area ceded to the French, approximately one third of the total amount, and this area is now known as Haiti.
The settlement of new people in the Domincan Republic was attributed by factors such as wealth, injustice and greed. The initial need for Spaniards to have power over the Indians through the encomienda system led to the downfall and decrease in population of the natives. Following in settlement were black African slaves who would fill the position of laborers. Finally, the conquest of Mexico influenced settlement by sending away large groups of Spanish settlers. After this event, settlement was restricted to no one and the French were only the first to claim a spot on the rich, newly found land.
Population Analysis
Above are two images of Population Pyramids showing the growth of the Dominican Republic over the past fifty years. Through the evidence presented in the pyramids it is reasonable that the population of the Dominican republic will contiue to increase throughout the twenty-first century.
Resources
Dominican republic. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.BookIt.com
Dominican republic pearson education. (2012). Retrieved from www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0107475.html
The first colony. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.countrystudies.us/dominican-republic/3.htm
Welcome. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.Dominican-Republic.com
Dominican republic pearson education. (2012). Retrieved from www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0107475.html
The first colony. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.countrystudies.us/dominican-republic/3.htm
Welcome. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.Dominican-Republic.com