Today is the Day of Independance
On 27 February in 1844, the group known as the Trinitarians, led by Juan Pablo Duarte , Francisco Sanchez, and Ramon Emilio Mella, were forced by circumstances to begin a revolt that they had been planning for months.
Popular support, good military leaders were able to keep the Haitian army at bay and defeat them in the battles of Azua (19 March) and Santiago (30 of March). Serious internal problems in Haiti assisted the Dominican troops.
Independence was one thing, a nation with effective leaders was another. It would take over 100 years for that to happen, in spite of some excellent people being int he Presidential chair from time to time. The best were usually overthrown by military figures within a short time of taking office.
HB
