Rafael Trujillo - Rise To Power

Rise To Power

In the year 1916, the U.S. occupied the island due to threats of defaulting on foreign debts. The occupying force soon established a Dominican army constabulary to restore order. Seeing opportunity, Trujillo impressed the recruiters and was promoted from lieutenant to general in only 9 years.

A rebellion against President Horacio Vásquez broke out in 1930 in Santiago. Trujillo secretly cut a deal with rebel leader Rafael Estrella Ureña; in return for allowing Estrella to take power, Trujillo would be allowed to run for president in new elections. As the rebels marched toward Santo Domingo, Vásquez ordered Trujillo to suppress them. However, Trujillo, feigning "neutrality," kept his men in barracks, allowing Estrella's rebels to take the capital virtually unmolested. Estrella was proclaimed as acting president. Trujillo then became the nominee of the newly-formed Dominican Party in the 1930 presidential election. However, he was the only candidate allowed to actually campaign. Army harassment forced the other candidates to withdraw. When the election was finally held on May 16, Trujillo proclaimed victory with an implausible 95 percent of the vote. A judge actually declared the election fraudulent, but was forced to flee. It later surfaced that Trujillo received thousands more votes than there were actual voters.

On August 16, the then 38-year-old general took office, wearing a sash with the motto, "Dios y Trujillo" (God & Trujillo). He immediately assumed dictatorial powers.