Dominican Republic annexation referendum, 1870

A referendum on annexation by the United States was held in the Dominican Republic on 19 February 1870.^[1] The proposal was approved by 99.93% of voters, although turnout was just 30%.^[1] However, the United States Senate rejected the annexation on 30 June 1870 with a 28–28 vote.^[2]

Background

The Dominican Republic originally became independent from Haiti in 1844.^[1] However, in 1861 the country became part of Spain following an inflation crisis.^[1] In 1865 the country became independent again following the Restoration War.^[1]

By 1870 the country had significant debts caused by the ongoing civil war.^[1] President Buenaventura Báez planned on selling the Samaná Peninsula to the United States for $1.1 million, whilst US President Ulysses S. Grant wanted to annex the entire country.^[1] A treaty was signed between the two countries on 29 November 1869.^[1] The US would purchase the Dominican Republic for $1.5 million and would lease the Samaná Peninsula for $147,229.91 for 99 years.^[3]

On 16 February Báez ordered a referendum to be held in the form of a register. Eleven votes against were ordered so as to make the results seem plausible.^[4]

Results

Choice	Votes	%
For	16,000	99.93
Against	11	0.07
Invalid/blank votes	0	–
Total	16,011	100
Registered voters/turnout		30.00
Source: Direct Democracy

References

1. Dominican Republic: Integration with the USA Direct Democracy (German)
2. The Senate's Role in Treaties United States Senate
3. Hidalgo, Dennis (1997). "Charles Sumner and the Annexation of the Dominican Republic". ITINERARIO-LEIDEN. 21: 51–65.
4. Polyné, Millery (2006). "Expansion Now!: Haiti," Santo Domingo," and Frederick Douglass at the Intersection of US and Caribbean Pan-Americanism". Caribbean Studies. 34 (2): 3–45.