Description

The Annexation of the Dominican Republic to Spain or Reintegration of Santo Domingo was a five-year period in 1861–1865 during which the Dominican Republic returned to the sovereignty of Spain, following the request of Dominican dictator Pedro Santana. The period coincided with the American Civil War, during which the United States was unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. After fighting an insurgency of two years in the Dominican Restoration War, Spain left the country in 1865. Dominicans that sided with Spain left for Spanish Cuba and Puerto Rico, and played a decisive role in igniting the independence struggle in these islands.