8/11/2019 Debate Speech Dominican Republic

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Dominican Republic

Madame Speaker, invited guests, worthy opponent and members of the audience, Good morning. My

opponents had just argued that the United States brought on only negative influences to Dominican

Republic’s politics, economy and culture during the 1905, 1916 and 1965 interventions. However,

members of the audience, this will be found to be misleading as I proceed with my argument that it

was only positive influences that the United States’ interventions brought to the Dominican Republic.

The political status of Dominican Republic turned into complete chaos after the assassination of the

dictator, Ulises Heureaux who brought stability to the country according to Beckles and Shepard.

Members of the audience, his death led to the destruction of the country’s affairs and the country

was threatened by the intervention of European forces. The United States intervention in 1905,

brought about political stability as the United States controlled their affairs so there was no more

need for European countries to intervene.

The second intervention in 1916 occurred because of the resignation of the president at that time,

Juan Jimenez. He foolishly refused to allow the United States to assist in the managing of Dominican

Republics’ affairs and left the country without a government. The United States was able to restore

order with the establishment of a local police force known as a constabulary.

The final intervention in 1965, members of the audience occurred because a civil war broke out

between rebels and military forces. The situation in Dominican Republic was in such chaos that the

ambassador had to send a cable to Washington to intervene into to prevent the country from

eventually turning into another Communist society similar to Cuba. As noted by Greenwood and

Hamber, President Johnson gained the permission of the military junta to intervene and secure the

lives of the Cuban citizens. The yearlong occupation brought restoration to the country, the

neutralisation of the constitutionalists and the second presidential election in over 40 years was able

to be held. To my worthy opponent, wouldn’t the country have remained in turmoil if it wasn’t for the

United States’ intervention? 

As noted by Claypole and Robottom, the economy in Dominican Republic was ruined after the death

of the dictator Ulises Heureaux. During his tenure, he made attempts at modernising the country

which brought Dominican Republic to the attention of investors from European countries. However,

Heureaux’s attempts at modernising the country cost far more than the country could afford. After

his assassination in 1889, the country was left to repay debts owed to European bankers, the San

Domingo Improvement Company of the United States, his private army, his spy network and even,

members of the audience, his mistresses. The government soon gained control over the funds of the

Improvement Company and did not even pay the compensation to the American shareholders. The

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United States realized that Dominican Republic could not manage and distribute the money to its

creditors before any of the European powers take action to collect their debts. Members of the

audience, when the United States invaded in 1905, a General Customs Receivership was established

which served to administer customs collection from which the debts would be then gradually paid for.

Also, the country was able to obtain higher revenues within the country as the sugar industry

expanded due to numerous American investments similar to that made in Cuba according to

Greenwood and Hamber. My opponent made the claim that the United States had made the

Dominican Republic solely dependent on them for trading purposes but to the members of the

audience, the agreement made between them were only for their financial problems alone and did

not in any way hinder Dominican Republic from trading with other countries. This claim is also

misrepresentative as my opponent’s country received large amounts of money from exporting goods

to the United States.

My opponents maintained during their argument that the United States had negatively influenced the

culture of Dominican Republic by

However, this was not so as the United States’ influences were able to secure the modernisation of

the Dominican Republic as they were regarded fortunate, along with the rest countries invaded by the

United States, to be able to progress within the country by adapting many of the cultural influences

brought about by the United States.

In conclusion, the United States intervened into the Dominican Republic three times and during each

intervention, the country was able to gain many political, economic and cultural benefits. They were

able to restore order within the country due to the numerous occurrences of revolts. They were also

able, members of the audience, to restore and reorganise their finances due to the United States

intervening and controlling their affairs. My country was able to also avert European intervention that

could have led to the destruction of Dominican towns as seen done to Venezuela when unable to pay

their loans, members of the audience. The Dominicans saw to the implementation of schools and

better health care facilities and finally roads were built for cars to be driven from. The United States

interventions did impact the Dominican Republic in many ways but unl ike my opponent’s untrue and

fallacious claims, the United States only positively benefited their country. I thank you.