Eyewitnesses, “The Haitian Massacre”
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Eyewitnesses, “The Haitian Massacre”
“The Haitian Massacre” is a narration by individuals who witnessed the Haitian massacre. According to the first witness, they were singing in a choir during the Dajabon festivals when they saw a Dominican Military outside the church. The Military killed many people while living with others with serious injuries. During the war, many Haitians were captured when the war came to the border. The other witness said that he was a victim of the massacre that led to the death of his parents. The witness says that he witnessed many people die and he sustained serious injuries. The document is quite significant since it is narrated by individuals who had a first-hand experience of the massacre. The document was produced in 1942; five years after the bloodshed meaning the memories of the massacre were still fresh.
“The Haitian Massacre” is an informative document that educates students, historians, and the Haitian government about the events that transpired during the massacre. Although the events are worrying, the content of the document is clear. In my perspective, this document goes a long way to explain the events that happened in October 1937. I believe that the author does not have any bias making it a reliable source of information.
“A Diplomat’s Diagnosis of the Dictator”
This document was written by Richard Johnson describing the vices of Rafel Trujillo, the ruler of the Dominican Republic. In this document, Trujillo is described as a greedy person who led by his love for power. According to Johnson, Trujillo developed policies that would enhance his international reputation and satisfy his vast greed. The dictator always sought to satisfy his interests, which was demonstrated in his hunger for decorations, uniforms, palatial housing, and monuments. According to Johnson, the dictator Trujillo aimed to increase his publicity to sustain his regime.
This important document paints a vivid picture of the Dominican dictator. Essentially, the document highlights the corrupt nature of the dictator who deeds everything to remain in power. The information is given by a United States Foreign Service officer, who worked under Trujillo for seven years. Although the credibility of the author may be questionable, he ensures that he gives sufficient examples to support his claims. For instance, he described Trujillo as an insensitive leader who forced a crippled man to execute ridiculous dance in public. By highlighting this one incident, it is evident that Trujillo was an oppressive leader. The author does not seem to portray any form of bias in this document. He is only trying to demonstrate the flaws of Trujillo as the ruler of the Dominican Republic.
The President of the United States Chooses the Next President of the Dominican Republic
The transcript was of a conversation between President Lyndon Johnson, State Department, and Thomas Mann. In this document, the Latin American specialist is alerting the United States president about the situation at the Dominican Republic after military confrontation after the death of dictator Trujillo. The main purpose of the conversation was to choose a president for the Dominican Republic. President Johnson clearly says that the only option they had to stabilize the country was to set up a government, which means coming with a president to run the country. Although Bosch is a potential candidate for the position, Johnson and Mann think that he is not fit for the position recommending getting another person.
The document is quite important since it highlights how the United States was involved in Dominican politics. While the republic is in a position to choose its ruler, the United States wants to choose the next president to protect its interest in the country. This is one of the most reliable sources, which demonstrates how the United States controlled the affairs of the Dominican Republic. Most of the information in regards to the U.S influence on the country may be based on propaganda or biased sources, but this is conservation between the U.S president and the State Department undersecretary.