Dominican RepublicDominican Republic

• By Sean James By Sean James

Basic Data Basic Data Official NameOfficial Name:: Dominican RepublicDominican Republic

Total AreaTotal Area: 48,671 square kilometers: 48,671 square kilometers

Location : Location : South- Caribbean sea, Venezuela North – Bahamas, Florida East – Atlantic ocean West – South- Caribbean sea, Venezuela North – Bahamas, Florida East – Atlantic ocean West – Haiti, Jamaica Cuba Haiti, Jamaica Cuba

Head of GovernmentHead of Government: President: President

CapitalCapital: Santo Domingo: Santo Domingo

Major CitiesMajor Cities: Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Romana, San Francisco de Macoris, San Cristobal: Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Romana, San Francisco de Macoris, San Cristobal

LanguageLanguage: Spanish: Spanish

ReligionsReligions: Christianity: Christianity

CurrencyCurrency: Dominican Peso: Dominican Peso

PopulationPopulation: 9 million: 9 million

Flag and its SignificanceFlag and its Significance

• In 1908 the Dominican flag had blue and red quadrants placed in alternating positions. Each of the colors in the flag has its own significance. The blue signifies the expansive sky above our land and the red symbolizes the blood spilled by the heroes who gave their lives fighting for the freedom of their country against the Haitians. The white represents the dedication and dignity of the Dominican people.

Dominican Republic Dominican Republic At first the whole island of Hispaniola was under At first the whole island of Hispaniola was under

Haitian control which the Dominicans called "The Haitian control which the Dominicans called "The Haitian Occupation". During the late 1830's, an Haitian Occupation". During the late 1830's, an underground resistance group, La Trinitaria, was underground resistance group, La Trinitaria, was organized under the leadership of Juan Pablo organized under the leadership of Juan Pablo Duarte. Duarte.

After multiple attacks on the Haitian army, and After multiple attacks on the Haitian army, and because of the arguing of the Haitians, they because of the arguing of the Haitians, they eventually retreated. Independence of the eastern eventually retreated. Independence of the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola was officially declared on two-thirds of Hispaniola was officially declared on February 27, 1844, República Dominicana February 27, 1844, República Dominicana (Dominican Republic). (Dominican Republic).

Historical OccurrenceHistorical Occurrence

In the mid-1970s the Balaguer government was In the mid-1970s the Balaguer government was destabilized because of a surge in oil prices, a crash destabilized because of a surge in oil prices, a crash in the price of sugar, and increases in unemployment in the price of sugar, and increases in unemployment and inflation. Human rights and political freedom were and inflation. Human rights and political freedom were better observed then. The country, however, incurred better observed then. The country, however, incurred enormous foreign debt, and the International Monetary enormous foreign debt, and the International Monetary Fund required unimaginable economic measures, Fund required unimaginable economic measures, such as a decrease of funding and increase in prices such as a decrease of funding and increase in prices of staple goods, and restricted credit.of staple goods, and restricted credit.

Major Holidays Major Holidays

The Day of Our Lady of Altagracia -The Day of Our Lady of Altagracia -January 21January 21

Corpus Christi - June 17Corpus Christi - June 17 The Feast of Our Lady of Mercy -The Feast of Our Lady of Mercy -

September 24September 24

A Famous Man-Made A Famous Man-Made Structure Structure The cathedral of Santa Maria is the The cathedral of Santa Maria is the

oldest cathedral in the western oldest cathedral in the western hemisphere, built in 1523 and still in hemisphere, built in 1523 and still in use. Its walls have seen a great deal use. Its walls have seen a great deal of history, including the coming of Sir of history, including the coming of Sir Francis Drake who captured Santo Francis Drake who captured Santo Domingo in 1586 and held the town Domingo in 1586 and held the town for ransom. He made the cathedral for ransom. He made the cathedral his headquarters. his headquarters.

A Famous Geological A Famous Geological CreationCreation

Duarte Peak, at 10,417 ft (3,175 m), Duarte Peak, at 10,417 ft (3,175 m), is the highest point in the West Indies is the highest point in the West Indies and is located in the Dominican and is located in the Dominican republicrepublic

Famous Man

Juan Pablo DuarteJuan Pablo was a liberal leader of the famous La Trinitaria. He is considered one of the national heroes, as he helped the Dominican Republic achieve independence from Haiti in 1844. Juan Pablo is considered as the architect of the Dominican Republic.

Famous Woman

Milly QuezadaMilagros Quezada Borbon is considered as the queen of merengue music in the Dominican Republic and USA. She received the Latin Grammy awards for her albums, Pienso asi and MQ.

Favorite FoodFavorite Food

"La Bandera“ is the most popular "La Bandera“ is the most popular national dish in Dominican Republic. It national dish in Dominican Republic. It is a combination of rice, red beans, is a combination of rice, red beans, stewed meat (usually goat), salad and stewed meat (usually goat), salad and fried plantains. Comida Criolla is also fried plantains. Comida Criolla is also popular. It is a stewed chicken dish popular. It is a stewed chicken dish served with rice and beans. The only served with rice and beans. The only true Taino dishes that are still common true Taino dishes that are still common are Casabe - flat bread made from the are Casabe - flat bread made from the yucca plant. yucca plant.

Works Cited • "Dominican Republic food and Caribbean Recipes." punta cana

information guide. 2005. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://www.puntacana-information-guide.com/dominican-republic-food.html>.

• "Dominican Republic." countries and their cultures. 2010. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Dominican-Republic.html>.

 • "Dominican Republic." infoplease. 2000. 17 Aug. 2010.

<http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107475.html#axzz0wvMoLDtt>.

• "Famous People in the Dominican Republic." Buzzle. 2000. 17 Aug. 2000. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/famous-people-in-the-dominican-republic.html>.

• Guitar, Lynn . "History of the Dominican Republic." Hispaniola. 1996. 17 Aug. 1996. <http://www.hispaniola.com/dominican_republic/info/history.php>.

Works cited• "Piron, Otto . "Dominican Flag: History and Evolution." El Bohio

Dominicano. 2001. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.el-bohio.com/flag.html>.

• "dominican republic travel guide." iexplore. 2010. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.iexplore.com/world_travel/Dominican+Republic/Attractions>.

• "graphic maps." worldatlas. 17 Aug. 1996. <http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/do.htm>.

• "Dominican Republic Fast Facts." Dominican Republic. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.dominicanrepublicmapxl.com/dominican-republic-fast-facts.html>.

"Dominican Republic food and Caribbean Recipes." punta cana information guide. 2005. 18 Aug. 2010. <http://www.puntacana-information-guide.com/dominican-republic-food.html>.

    

    

 

"Dominican Republic." countries and their cultures. 2010. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Dominican-Republic.html>.

    

    

 

"Dominican Republic." infoplease. 2000. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107475.html#axzz0wvMoLDtt>.

    

    

 

"Famous People in the Dominican Republic." Buzzle. 2000. 17 Aug. 2000. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/famous-people-in-the-dominican-republic.html>.

    

    

 

Guitar, Lynn . "History of the Dominican Republic." Hispaniola. 1996. 17 Aug. 1996. <http://www.hispaniola.com/dominican_republic/info/history.php>.

    

    

 

Piron, Otto . "Dominican Flag: History and Evolution." El Bohio Dominicano. 2001. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.el-bohio.com/flag.html>.

    

    

 

"dominican republic travel guide." iexplore. 2010. 17 Aug. 2010. <http://www.iexplore.com/world_travel/Dominican+Republic/Attractions>.

    

    

 

"graphic maps." worldatlas. 17 Aug. 1996. <http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/do.htm>.