Behind the Bastards Part One: Rafael Trujillo: The Most Brutal Dictator of the Americas
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Aug 8, 2023 AI Snips
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Trujillo: A Brutal, Smart Dictator
- Rafael Trujillo was a unique dictator who combined traditional strongman tactics with smart, manipulative control methods.
- His nearly 30-year reign places him among the longest-lasting and most brutal dictators in history.
Hispaniola's Divided Colonial Legacy
- Hispaniola's history is marked by a colonial split between French and Spanish powers.
- The Dominican Republic evolved with smaller-scale slavery and a cow-ranching economy, differing greatly from Haiti's plantation system.
Exclusionary Dominican Political Views
- Dominican elites believed peasants were unfit for democracy and needed top-down governance.
- Racial and class prejudices deeply shaped early Dominican political thought, advocating for 'whitening' and control.