After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludes, the country became independent in 1821 under the rule of a former colonial judge who maintained the system of slavery and limited rights for the mostly mulatto and black population. The ruler, José Núñez de Cáceres, intended that the Dominican Republic be part of the nation of Gran Colombia, but he was quickly removed by the Haitian government and “Dominican” slave revolts.

Victorious in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844, Dominicans experienced mostly internal strife, and also a brief return to Spanish rule, over the next 72 years. The United States occupation of 1916–1924, and a subsequent, calm and prosperous six-year period under Horacio Vásquez Lajara, were followed by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina until 1961.

The civil war of 1965, the country’s last, was ended by a U.S.-led intervention and was followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaquín Balaguer, 1966–1978. Since then, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy and has been led by Leonel Fernández for most of the time after 1996.

The Dominican Republic has the second-largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region. Though long known for sugar production, the economy is now dominated by services, especially tourism.

The Dominican Republic has become the Caribbean’s largest tourist destination; the country’s year-round golf courses are among the top attractions and having some of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean.

Music and sport are of the highest importance in Dominican culture, with merengue as the national dance and song and baseball as the favorite sport.

Popular areas for clients to purchase real estate in include, Sosua, Cabarete, Samana, and Punta Cana.