Dominican+Republic+-+Kelli+Klassen

Spanish
Quisqueyanos valientes alcemos nuestro canto con viva amoci ó n Y del mundo a la faz ostenemos Nuestro invicto glorioso pend ó n

Salve el pueblo que intrpido y fuerte A la guerra a morir se lanz ó Cuando en belico reto de meurte Sus cadenas de esclavo rompio.

Ningun pueblo ser libre merece Si es esclavo, indolente y servil, Si en su pecho la llama no crece Que templo el heroismo viril.

Mas Quisqueya dla indomita y brava Siempre altiva la frente alzar á, Que si fuere mil veces esclava Otras tantas ser libre sabra.

English
Brave men of Quisqueya, Let us sing with strong feeling And let us show to the world Our invincible, glorious banner.

Hail, O people who, strong and intrepid, Launched into war and went to death! Under a warlike menace of death, You broke your chains of slavery.

No country deserves to be free If it is an indolent and servile slave, If the call does not grow loud within it, Tempered by a virile heroism.

But the brave and indomitable Quisqueya Will always hold its head high, For if it were a thousand times enslaved, It would a thousand times regain freedom.

Location
The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean on an island called Hispaniola. They share this island with their neighbor Haiti. The Dominican takes up 2/3 of the island.

Interesting Facts

 * National Name:** Republica Dominicana
 * Capital:** Santo Domingo
 * Location****:** Eastern Caribbean
 * Population:** 10.09 million (2012)
 * Size:** area- 30,242 sq. miles
 * Languages:** Spanish (English)
 * Ethnicity/Race:** White 16%, 11%, Mixed 73%
 * Religion:** Roman Catholic 95%
 * Monetary Units:** Dominican Peso
 * Education:** free and mandatory
 * Literacy:** 84.7% of the country is literate
 * Time Zone:** Atlantic
 * Imports:** U.S $18.38 billion (petroleum products, durable consumer goods, food supplies) Venezuela, Taiwan, China, Mexico, Columbia
 * Exports:** U.S $7.792 billion (textiles, electronic products, jewelry, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, shoes) Haiti, Western Europe, Puerto Rico
 * Government:** Representative Democracy
 * Elections:** Every 4 years
 * Head of State:** Leonel Fernandez (President as of 2004)

Timeline
__**1940's-1960's**__ __**1800's**__ **__1900's__**
 * //(1492)// Christopher Columbus discovered island, and named it Hispaniola
 * //(1946)// Spaniards set up first Spanish colony at Santo Domingo, served as capital of all Spanish colonies in South America
 * //(1510)// First shipment of Africans to Santo Domingo
 * (1697) Treaty of Ryswick gave Western part of Hispaniola island (Haiti) to France and eastern part (DR) to Spain
 * __1700's__**
 * //(1793)// First British soldiers came ashore at St. Domingue
 * //(1795)// Spain hand over its portion of Hispaniola Island to France
 * //(1808)// Spain retook Santo Domingo
 * //(1810)// Napoleon overthrew King of Spain
 * //(1844)// DR gained Independence from Haiti, Santo Domingo declared Independence, became Dominican Republic
 * //(1861-63)// President Pedro Santana returned Dominican Republic to Spanish rule
 * //(1863-64)// Following revolt, Spain withdrew annexation of Dominican Republic
 * //(1865)// Second Dominican Republic proclaimed
 * //(1906)// 50-year treaty signed by US and Dominican Republic, US took over the Republican's customs department in return for buying its debts
 * //(1916-24)// Dominican Republic occupied by US forces after internal disorder
 * //(1924)// Constitutional government assumed control; US forces withdrew
 * //(1930)// General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina established personal dictatorship
 * //(1960)// Organization of American States adopted resolution, called for severance of diplomatic ties with DR
 * //(1961)// Trujillo assassinated
 * //(1962)// Founder of leftist Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Juan Bosch, elected in first democratic elections in nearly four decades
 * //(1963)// Bosch deposed in military coup, replaced by three-man civilian junta
 * //(1965)// 30,000 US troops invaded Dominican Republic following pro-Bosch uprising

Video Blogs
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Holidays
~ This is the day that concludes DR's Christmas celebrations. They start their celebrations at the beginning of December and end it off with a big Fiesta on Three Kings Day. > ~ This is the countries most important religious celebration
 * //January 1-// New Year's Day
 * //January 6-// Three Kings Day
 * //January 21-// Procession of our lady of Altagracia
 * //February 27-// Independence Day
 * //May 1-// Labor Day
 * //October 24-// United Nation Day
 * //December 25-// Christmas
 * Throughout the whole year festivals are held across the country. These festivals include loud music, dancers, and many colors.

Attractions
The Dominican Republic is well known for their beaches. It is the perfect place for a vacation if you enjoy the sun and being on a beach. These are a couple of the most popular beaches along the shorelines of the Dominican Republic.

Bahia de las aguilas
- This is one of the last beaches that is untouched by tourism, but that will soon change as the region is being newly developed.

Boca Chica Beach
- This is one of the famous beaches along the coastline of the Dominican Republic. Boca Chica is a wide expanse of white sand and clear, blue waters. This beach is perfect to bring children because of the shallow waters.

Cabarete Beach
- This is one of the top ten windsurfing and kiteboarding beaches in the whole world.

Famous Country Men
__Juan Pablo Duarte__ - This man is considered a national hero, as he helped the Dominican Republic achieve independence from Haiti in 1844. He is also considered as the architect of the Dominican Republic. 

__Felix Sanchez__ - A professional athlete that won the first ever gold medal for the Dominican Republic in the 400 meter hurdles during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

__Pedro Mir__- A former famous poet and writer. In 1993 he was awarded the Dominican National Literature Award for his lifetime achievements.

__Milly Quezada__ - She is considered the queen of merengue music in the Dominican Republic and the USA.

Dominican Music
Merengue music is the most popular style of music in the Dominican Republic. Three main types of merengue are played in the Dominican Republic today. They are all very similar, but are recognized by their instruments.
 * Güira is a percussion instrument used in merengue.
 * Tambora is a Dominican drum.

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Bachata is another one of the most popular styles of music in the Dominican Republic. It's lyrical themes range from alcoholism to the loss of ones true love to the declaration of undying love.

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 * Güira is a percussion instrument used in bachata also.
 * Bongos are a large part in bachata music.
 * Electric guitars and electric basses are used as well.