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When countries are colonized, the influences of the country who colonized them always remain present. In the Dominican Republic, even though they were colonized by Spaniards, only 16% of them are of full European ancestry. This is because the Spaniards moved around a lot. Surprisingly 11% of the Dominican population are of full black ancestry. The majority race is mulatto(mixed black and white ancestry). Today Dominicans call themselves either white or Indian, they want no connection with African culture so they ignore their black influences. In the Dominican Republic 500,000 people are Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent. Haitians came to the Dominican Republic for many reasons. Some for agricultural reasons, some to escape the poverty in Haiti, and some were recruited by other Dominicans for cheap labor to cultivate one of their major crops-sugarcane.

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.

The Spanish came to the island of Hispaniola mainly because of the promise of gold. When they arrived they forced the Arawaks to work for them. The Arawaks, because of the Spanish were mistreated and overworked, while working in the gold and silver mines. The Spanish also stole their suopplies, demanded large amounts of tribute from them, and abused their women. Some of the Arawaks commited suicide by handing themselves or drinking poisonous manioc jucies.

The Spanish also exposed them to their diseases, and many Arawaks died because of them. Later down the line, the Arawaks rebelled against the Spanish, but the Spanish were to strong and powerful for them. They ended the revoke by the Arawaks. By 1524 the Arawaks ceased to exist as a unified people.

Life in the Dominican Republic was a small ciboney(group of American Indian people)settlement that existed on the southwest shore of Haiti. The Arawak people, or the first group of people living there before Columbus came, dwelled there for quit some time.

There was an estimated 1-3million Arawak's living in the Dominican Republic at the time. They were split into five kingdoms ruled by strong-willed chiefs. The people there had over a 1,000 huts in each kingdom. On the northeastern coast, there were Indians living on the island. They spoke a different language, and painted their bodies with a black substance. Life was good, mainly because the Arawaks had complete control over the island known as Hispaniola.

The Arawaks farmed and planted what they needed. Some of the things they planted were corn, sweet potatoes, and manioc. Manioc was a substance used to make four for bread. Through their planting, they created a system of agricultural called conuco. Conuco are beds raised from the mounds in the earth. They planted all of their crops on these beds. The Arawaks also fished up until the time they were colonized by the Spanish.