1. What were the early years of colonization like for Columbus’s men? What did they name the island? How did they get along with the indigenous people? What is an encomienda?
2. February 27, 1844 is Independence Day for the Dominican Republic. The Dominicans were not fighting the Spanish. How had the Spanish lost control of the island? From whom did the Dominican Republic gain its independence? Who is Juan Pablo Duarte? What is he famous for?
3. The United States intervened and occupied the Dominican Republic in 1916. Describe the circumstances that led up to this occupation and how long it lasted.
4. The Dominican economy flourished under the government of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. Why then is Trujillo hated by many Dominicans? Who supported him? Where is Ciudad Trujillo? What happened at the Masacre de Perejil?
5. In 1992 the monument, the Faro a Colón was completed to commemorate the 500 year anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. What is this monument and where is it located? How would you describe its appearance? What about this monument is so controversial?
6. Racial Identity in The Dominican Republic: The Spanish colonizers used a caste system throughout the Latin American colonies to denote, the different races and ethnic groups, such as the Spaniards, the indigenous people, African slaves and mixed groups.... Who were the peninsulares, criollos, zambos, mestizos, mulatos, indios? Who had the most power and who had the least? How has this affected modern Dominican society? What is the ethnic makeup of modern Dominican society? Compare to issues surrounding ethnic identity in your country/U.S.
7. In World War II, the Dominican Republic was the only nation who agreed to accept a large number of Jewish refugees. How did this come about? How many came? Where do most live?
8. Many Dominicans leave their homeland to escape poverty and find work in other countries. Yet the Dominican Republic is also a destination for immigrants and struggles with its own immigration issues. Where do most of the immigrants in the Dominican Republic come from? What are relations like between the Dominicans and these immigrants?
Art and Culture
9. Have you ever been slapped with a cow’s bladder? Why is this an integral part of the celebration of Carnaval in La Vega? Who gives and who receives the blows? What do the diablos cojuelos represent? How long do these festivities go on?
10. Dominican author, Julia Álvarez, received great literary acclaim for her book, In the Time of the Butterflies, a fictional account of historical events. What is this book about? Who were the Mirabal sisters? What is the significance of the butterflies?
11. Merengue is said to be the DR’s national music. Juan Luis Guerra exported it to the world. How did he do this? The themes of his songs often use metaphors to reflect Dominican life and issues. Go to Juan Luis Guerra’s official website to read more about him. Then listen to one of the following songs and discuss the significance of the lyrics and they way the D.R. is described...
El Costo de la vida
Si de aquí saliera petróleo
Visa para un sueño
Ojalá que llueva café.
12. The Republic of Baseball: The Dominican Giants of the America Game Since 1956 over 400 Dominicans have played in the major leagues of baseball in the United States. This episode of Voces, a PBS documentary series, tells the story of the first Dominican players, from their childhood under the brutal dictatorship of Trujillo to how they left the poverty of their homeland, confronted racism in the U.S. and ultimately came to be an integral part of American Baseball. Watch this documentary (you may find it in your library or local video store; there is also a synopsis on line on the PBS web site), summarize it and describe your reactions.
