Annexation of the Dominican Republic to Spain

Province of Santo Domingo
Provincia de Santo Domingo (Spanish)
Province of Spain
1861–1865

Cities controlled by the Spanish Army in December 1864 (red)
Anthem
Marcha Real
DemonymDominican
Population 
 1861
280,000
Government
  TypeCaptaincy General
Queen 
 1861–1865
Isabella II of Spain
Governor and Captain-General 
 1861–1862
Pedro Santana (first)
 1864–1865
José de la Gándara (last)
History 
 Reincorporation proclaimed
18 March 1861
 Evacuation of last Spanish troops
15 July 1865
Preceded by
Succeeded by
First Dominican Republic
Second Dominican Republic
Today part ofDominican Republic

The Annexation of the Dominican Republic to Spain (Spanish: Anexión de la República Dominicana a España) or Reintegration of Santo Domingo (Reintegración de Santo Domingo) was a five-year period in 1861–1865 during which the Dominican Republic returned to the sovereignty of Spain, following the request of Dominican dictator Pedro Santana. The period coincided with the American Civil War, during which the United States was unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. After fighting an insurgency of two years in the Dominican Restoration War, Spain left the country in 1865. Dominicans that sided with Spain left for Spanish Cuba and Puerto Rico, and played a decisive role in igniting the independence struggle in these islands.