Due to the deceasing of the Arawak people, the colonist of Santo Domingo began to import African slaves to meet the high demand for the cheap labor of sugarcane. Unfortunately, Santo Domingo declined between the 16th and 17th centuries. Soon Santo Domingo stopped progressing, so the Spanish began to give their attention to richer territories of Mexico and Peru. French and English pirates messed with Santo Domingo from time to time. Eventually they captured Santo Domingo and wanted the Spanish government to give them something for Domingo's return.

In 1697 the Spanish gave the French pirates the western third part of Hispaniola. France named their land Saint Domingue, which imported many slaves and made lots of money. War arose among the slaves and the owners of Saint Domingue. Francois-Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture formed an army to free the slaves of Saint Domingue, and he also joined the Spainish army to fight against France. Then he joined the Frech forces against the Spanish. Eventually Spain ended the maddness by signing the Treaty of Basel surrendering Santo Domingo to France. After that there were many wars fought by the French and Spainish. It was 1821 when the Dominicans finally deposed the Spanish govener, and declared themselves independent. They called called their new nation Spanish Haiti.